special
PronouncedSPEH-shuhl
adjDifferent from others in an interesting or important way.
adjVery much liked or loved by someone.
nounA lower price for something for a short time.
nounA meal that a restaurant offers only on certain days.
nounAn episode of a television show that is unusual or different from the regular ones.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Related words (same phonics pattern)
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: SP Blend
Sound“sp”·/sp/
S and P blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'spin' and 'sport'.
The blend SP combines /s/ and /p/ spoken quickly together.
Examples
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound “eh”. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says “eh” like an egg on your head.
Examples
Phonics Rule: CI says “sh”
Sound“sh”·/ʃ/
Before another vowel, CI often says “sh”, like in 'special' and 'musician'.
When CI comes before another vowel (usually A, O, or E), the two letters blend into the “sh” sound: special, crucial, musician, glacier, delicious. This is common in words ending -cial and -cian.
Tip
CI before a vowel whispers “sh” — a special musician!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Schwa
Sound“uh”·/ə/
In unstressed syllables, vowels often make a lazy 'uh' sound called schwa, like the A in 'about'.
Schwa “uh” is the most common vowel sound in English. Any vowel letter can make the schwa sound when it's in an unstressed syllable. It sounds like a quick, lazy 'uh'.
Tip
Schwa is lazy — any vowel can say 'uh' when it's not stressed!
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
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