mistake
nounSomething you do or think that is wrong.
verbTo think that someone or something is a different person or thing.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Prefix MIS-
MIS- means 'wrongly' or 'badly'. 'Misread' means to read wrongly.
The prefix mis- means something is done wrongly or incorrectly. 'Read' → 'misread' (read wrong); 'spell' → 'misspell' (spell wrong).
Tip
MIS- means it went wrong — mistake, misread, misspell!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter T
The letter T makes the /t/ sound, like in 'top', 'tap', and 'ten'. The tongue tip taps behind the upper teeth.
T is a voiceless alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth and releases with a puff of air. Double T (tt) makes the same /t/ sound.
Tip
T taps — touch your tongue to make /t/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with A (Magic E)
In the a-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the A say its name — like in 'cake' and 'make'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the pattern a-consonant-e (like 'cake'), the final E is silent but it makes the A say its long sound /eɪ/. This is called the 'magic E' or 'silent E' rule.
Tip
Magic E makes A say its name!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter K
The letter K makes the /k/ sound, like in 'kite', 'kit', and 'king'.
K always makes the /k/ sound. It is used before E, I, and Y where C would make an /s/ sound instead. K is silent before N at the start of a word (knife, know).
Tip
K is for kite — and kite starts with /k/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with A (Magic E)
In the a-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the A say its name — like in 'cake' and 'make'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the pattern a-consonant-e (like 'cake'), the final E is silent but it makes the A say its long sound /eɪ/. This is called the 'magic E' or 'silent E' rule.
Tip
Magic E makes A say its name!
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.