mission
nounAn important job or task that someone has been asked to do.
nounA goal or purpose that is very important to someone.
nounA group of people sent somewhere to do a special job.
nounA building where people go to help others and teach them about religion.
nounA trip that someone goes on to teach people about their religion.
nounA neighborhood in San Francisco.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Word forms:
Related words (same phonics pattern)
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter M
The letter M makes the /m/ sound, like in 'map', 'mud', and 'mop'. Both lips press together with voice through the nose.
M is a voiced bilabial nasal — both lips press together while the voice hums through the nose. Double M (mm) makes the same /m/ sound.
Tip
M hums like mmm — press your lips and hum!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Short I
The letter I makes a short sound, like in 'sit' and 'big'.
When the letter I appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short I sound /ɪ/. This is one of the trickiest short vowels because it sounds similar to short E.
Tip
I says /ɪ/ like an itch you can't miss.
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter S
The letter S usually makes the /s/ sound, like in 'sun', 'sit', and 'sock'. Air hisses through a small gap.
S is a voiceless alveolar fricative when it makes the /s/ sound. At the end of many words it can also make a /z/ sound (as in 'dogs' or 'has'). At the start of a word it is always /s/.
Tip
S hisses like a snake — sssssun!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -SION (/shun/)
After a consonant, -SION says /shun/, like in 'mission' and 'tension'.
When -SION follows a consonant, it makes the /ʃən/ (shun) sound: mission, tension, passion, discussion. (After a vowel it buzzes to /ʒən/ instead — vision, division — see the companion rule.)
Tip
-SION after a consonant says /shun/ — mission, tension, passion!
Examples
What is SnapPhonics?
A phonics reference for teachers, parents and learners. Every English word, broken into the sounds that make it — with audio, syllables, and the rule behind each spelling.
Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.