SnapPhonics

plums

PronouncedPLUHMZ

/ˈplʌmz/noun
  1. nounMore than one small, soft, round fruit with smooth skin that is usually dark red or purple.

  2. nounMore than one tree that grows these fruits.

  3. nounMore than one really good or special thing that someone wants to have.

  4. nounA dark bluish-red colour like the colour of some of these fruits.

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Syllables

plums

1 syllable

Letters

Base word

plum

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

pl

Phonics Rule: PL Blend

Sound“pl”·/pl/

P and L blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'play' and 'plan'.

The blend PL combines /p/ and /l/ spoken quickly together.

Examples

u

Phonics Rule: Short U

Sound“uh”·/ʌ/

The letter U makes a short sound, like in 'cup' and 'bus'.

When the letter U appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short U sound “uh”. This sounds like 'uh'.

Tip

U says “uh” like 'uh-oh, what's up?'

Examples

m

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

s

Phonics Rule: Plural -S (/z/ sound)

Sound“z”·/z/

After a buzzing sound or a vowel, the plural ending says /z/ — like 'dogs' and 'shoes'.

Put a finger on your throat and say 'zzzz' — you feel a buzz. When the word ends in a buzzing (voiced) sound or a vowel, the plural ending buzzes too and says /z/. This happens whether the word is spelled -s (dogs) or -es (shoes, trees), because in shoes the e is silent and only the s is sounded. Most people never notice they are doing this.

Examples

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