molecule
PronouncedMAH-luhk-yool
nounThe smallest piece of something that is made of two or more atoms stuck together.
nounA very small amount of something.
Syllables
3 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter M
Sound“m”·/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
When the letter O appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short O sound “ah”. In American English, this sounds like 'ah'.
Tip
O says “ah” like 'Ahh!' said the doctor.
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter L
Sound“l”·/l/
The letter L makes the /l/ sound, like in 'lamp', 'leg', and 'lip'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
L is a voiced lateral approximant — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while air flows around the sides. Double L (ll) makes the same /l/ sound.
Tip
L is for lamp — light it up with /l/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Schwa
Sound“uh”·/ə/
In unstressed syllables, vowels often make a lazy 'uh' sound called schwa, like the A in 'about'.
Schwa “uh” is the most common vowel sound in English. Any vowel letter can make the schwa sound when it's in an unstressed syllable. It sounds like a quick, lazy 'uh'.
Tip
Schwa is lazy — any vowel can say 'uh' when it's not stressed!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Hard C
Sound“k”·/k/
C makes the /k/ sound before A, O, U, or a consonant, like in 'cat' and 'cup'.
The letter C makes the hard /k/ sound when followed by A, O, U, or a consonant. This is the default C sound. Examples: cat, cup, coat, cold, crab, class.
Tip
C says K before A, O, U — cat, cup, coat!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with U — “yoo” (Magic E)
Sound“yoo”·/juː/
In the u-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the U say its name with a /j/ glide — like 'cute' and 'use'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the u-consonant-e pattern, the silent E makes U say “yoo” by default. After L, R, S, or J, see the companion rule silent_e_u_e_oo for the “oo” pronunciation.
Tip
Magic E makes U say YOO!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter L
Sound“l”·/l/
The letter L makes the /l/ sound, like in 'lamp', 'leg', and 'lip'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
L is a voiced lateral approximant — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while air flows around the sides. Double L (ll) makes the same /l/ sound.
Tip
L is for lamp — light it up with /l/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with U — “yoo” (Magic E)
Sound“yoo”·/juː/
In the u-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the U say its name with a /j/ glide — like 'cute' and 'use'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the u-consonant-e pattern, the silent E makes U say “yoo” by default. After L, R, S, or J, see the companion rule silent_e_u_e_oo for the “oo” pronunciation.
Tip
Magic E makes U say YOO!
Examples
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