smoulder
Pronouncedsmoulder
To burn slowly without flames, producing smoke. When something smoulders, it is hot and smoking but not actively on fire.
The 'ou' digraph represents the /oʊ/ sound rather than the /aʊ/ sound typically expected in words with this spelling pattern. Additionally, the final syllable has a schwa sound /ər/ despite the 'er' ending.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: SM Blend
Sound“sm”·/sm/
S and M blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'small' and 'smile'.
The blend SM combines /s/ and /m/ spoken quickly together.
Examples
Phonics Rule: OU says “oh”
Sound“oh”·/oʊ/
OU can say the long “oh” sound, like in 'soul' and 'shoulder'.
In a small set of words, OU says the long-O “oh” sound: soul, shoulder, boulder, dough, although.
Tip
OU can say oh — soul, shoulder!
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
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: Suffix -ER
Sound“er”·/ɜːr/
Adding -ER can mean 'more' (bigger) or 'a person who' (teacher).
The suffix -er has two main uses: comparative ('big' → 'bigger' = more big) and agent ('teach' → 'teacher' = a person who teaches).
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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