sour
adjHaving a sharp, tangy taste like a lemon.
adjTasting or smelling bad because it has gone off.
adjUnfriendly or unkind.
verbTo become bad or go off.
verbTo make something taste sharp and tangy.
nounA sweet with a sharp tangy flavour.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter 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: OUR says /aʊər/
OUR can make the /aʊər/ sound, like in 'hour', 'sour', and 'flour'.
OUR can also say /aʊər/ (like 'ow' + 'er'): hour, sour, flour, scour, devour.
Tip
One hour is sour — hour, sour, flour!
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.