SnapPhonics

poorest

PronouncedPOO-rihst

/ˈpuː.rɪst/adjective
  1. adjectiveHaving the least money or possessions compared to other people.

  2. adjectiveThe lowest in quality or standard.

  3. adjectiveMost lacking or insufficient in a particular way.

  4. adjectiveThe most inadequate or not enough.

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Syllables

poorest

2 syllables

Letters

Base word

poor

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

p

Phonics Rule: Letter P

Sound“p”·/p/

The letter P makes the /p/ sound, like in 'pan', 'pig', and 'pot'. Both lips press together then pop open.

P is a voiceless bilabial stop — both lips press together and release with a puff of air but no voice. It pairs with B (which is the voiced version of the same mouth position).

Tip

P pops open — press your lips and let it POP!

Examples

oo

Phonics Rule: OO (Long Sound)

Sound“oo”·/uː/

OO often makes the long sound, like in 'moon' and 'food'.

The vowel team 'oo' has two sounds. The long sound “oo” is more common and appears in words like 'moon', 'food', and 'school'.

Tip

OO like the moon — ooooo!

Examples

r

Phonics Rule: Letter R

Sound“r”·/r/

The letter R makes the /r/ sound, like in 'run', 'red', and 'rope'. The tongue curls back slightly.

R is a voiced approximant. The tongue curls back or bunches up without touching the roof of the mouth. When R follows a vowel it changes that vowel's sound (r-controlled vowels).

Tip

R is for run — /r/ with a curl of the tongue!

Examples

est

Phonics Rule: Suffix -EST

Sound“ist”·/ɪst/

Adding -EST means 'the most', like 'biggest' and 'fastest'.

The suffix -est makes a superlative — it means 'the most' of something. 'Big' → 'biggest' means the most big of all.

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.

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