smudge
nounA dark mark or stain on something.
verbTo make something dirty or marked by rubbing or pressing.
verbTo make something unclear by blurring or smearing it.
nounThick smoke used to keep insects away from a place.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: SM Blend
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: Short U
The letter U makes a short sound, like in 'cup' and 'bus'.
When the letter U appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short U sound /ʌ/. This sounds like 'uh'.
Tip
U says /ʌ/ like 'uh-oh, what's up?'
Examples
Phonics Rule: DGE Trigraph
DGE makes the /dʒ/ sound (like J) after a short vowel, like in 'bridge' and 'judge'.
DGE appears after a short vowel. It makes the /dʒ/ sound. This is similar to how TCH works — it's the 'short vowel version' of the /dʒ/ ending.
Tip
Short vowel + /dʒ/? Use DGE — bridge to the fridge!
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.
Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.