profession
Pronouncedpruh-FEH-shuhn
nounA job that needs special training or skill, like being a doctor or teacher.
nounAll the people who do the same skilled job, thought of as one group.
nounA statement that you believe something, whether it is true or not.
Syllables
3 syllables
Letters
Related words (same phonics pattern)
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: PR Blend
Sound“pr”·/pr/
P and R blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'print' and 'price'.
The blend PR combines /p/ and /r/ spoken quickly together.
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: Letter F
Sound“f”·/f/
The letter F makes the /f/ sound, like in 'fish', 'fun', and 'fox'. The upper teeth touch the lower lip.
F is a voiceless labiodental fricative — the upper front teeth rest on the lower lip while air flows through to make the /f/ sound. It is very consistent.
Tip
F is for fish — and fish starts with /f/!
Examples
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound “eh”. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says “eh” like an egg on your head.
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter S
Sound“s”·/s/
The letter S usually makes the /s/ sound, like in 'sun', 'sit', and 'sock'. Air hisses through a small gap.
S is a voiceless alveolar fricative when it makes the /s/ sound. At the end of many words it can also make a /z/ sound (as in 'dogs' or 'has'). At the start of a word it is always /s/.
Tip
S hisses like a snake — sssssun!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -SION (“shun”)
Sound“shun”·/ʃən/
After a consonant, -SION says “shun”, like in 'mission' and 'tension'.
When -SION follows a consonant, it makes the “shun” sound: mission, tension, passion, discussion. (After a vowel it buzzes to “zhun” instead — vision, division — see the companion rule.)
Tip
-SION after a consonant says “shun” — mission, tension, passion!
Examples
What is SnapPhonics?
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