preschool
Pronouncedprees-KOOL
nounA school for very young children before they start primary school.
adjectiveAbout or for the time before a child goes to primary school.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Prefix PRE-
Sound“pree”·/priː/
PRE- means 'before'. 'Preview' means to view something before.
The prefix pre- is added to the start of a word to mean 'before' or 'in advance'. 'View' → 'preview' (view before); 'heat' → 'preheat' (heat before).
Tip
PRE- comes before — preview, predict, preheat!
Examples
Phonics Rule: SC Blend
Sound“sk”·/sk/
SC at the start of a word makes the /sk/ sound, like in 'scan', 'scoop', and 'scale'.
SC blends the /s/ and /k/ sounds together. Before A, O, U, and most consonants it says /sk/. Before E and I, the C softens and SC can say /s/ (scene, science).
Tip
SC scoops — /sk/ like a scoop of ice cream!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter H
Sound“h”·/h/
The letter H makes the /h/ sound, like in 'hat', 'hop', and 'hen'. It is a soft breath of air.
H is a voiceless glottal fricative — just a puff of air with no friction. It always appears before a vowel and is sometimes silent (as in 'hour' or 'honest').
Tip
H is a puff of air — breathe out and say /h/!
Examples
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
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
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