saturday
PronouncedSA-ter-dee
nounThe day of the week that comes after Friday and before Sunday.
adverbOn the day that comes after Friday and before Sunday.
Syllables
3 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
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
When the letter A appears in a closed syllable (a syllable that ends with a consonant), it usually makes the short A sound “a”. This is one of the first vowel sounds students learn.
Tip
A says “a” like a cat that sat on a mat.
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter T
Sound“t”·/t/
The letter T makes the /t/ sound, like in 'top', 'tap', and 'ten'. The tongue tip taps behind the upper teeth.
T is a voiceless alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth and releases with a puff of air. Double T (tt) makes the same /t/ sound.
Tip
T taps — touch your tongue to make /t/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: R-Controlled UR
Sound“er”·/ɜːr/
When R comes after U, it makes the “er” sound, like in 'turn' and 'burn'.
UR makes the same “er” sound as ER and IR. It's the least common of the three spellings.
Tip
The nurse with fur says “er”!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter D
Sound“d”·/d/
The letter D makes the /d/ sound, like in 'dog', 'day', and 'dig'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
D is a voiced alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge just behind the upper front teeth, then releases with voice. It reliably makes the /d/ sound in almost all positions.
Tip
D is for dog — and dog starts with /d/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: AY says “ee” (day names)
Sound“ee”·/iː/
In the names of the days, the -DAY ending is unstressed and AY says “ee” — 'monday' ends like 'mun-dee', not 'mun-DAY'.
AY usually says long A “ay” (day, play, stay). But in the names of the days of the week the ending is unstressed and relaxes: monday, tuesday, wednesday, friday and saturday all end in the sound “dee”. Say them at normal speed and listen — the ending is quick and light. The word day on its own still says “ay”, because there it carries the stress.
Tip
The days end lazy — mun-dee, fry-dee!
Examples
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