SnapPhonics

soonest

PronouncedSOO-nuhst

/ˈsuː.nəst/adverb
  1. advAt the earliest possible time.

  2. advMost readily or most willingly.

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Syllables

soonest

2 syllables

Letters

Base word

soon

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

s

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

oo

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

n

Phonics Rule: Letter N

Sound“n”·/n/

The letter N makes the /n/ sound, like in 'net', 'nap', and 'nut'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.

N is a voiced alveolar nasal — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while voice hums through the nose. It is one of the most common consonants in English.

Tip

N hums through the nose — say /n/ and feel the buzz!

Examples

est

Phonics Rule: Suffix -EST

Sound“ist”·/ɪst/

Adding -EST means 'the most', like 'biggest' and 'fastest'.

The suffix -est makes a superlative — it means 'the most' of something. 'Big' → 'biggest' means the most big of all.

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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