stairs
nounA set of steps that go up or down between different levels.
nounMore than one step in a staircase.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: ST Blend
S and T blend together — you hear both sounds! Like in 'stop' and 'fast'.
The blend ST combines /s/ and /t/ spoken quickly together. It can appear at the beginning or end of a word.
Examples
Phonics Rule: AIR says /ɛər/
AIR makes the /ɛər/ sound, like in 'air', 'hair', and 'chair'.
AIR is an r-controlled vowel team saying /ɛər/ (the 'air' sound): air, hair, fair, chair, pair, stairs.
Tip
AIR is in the air — hair, chair, pair!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Plural -S (/z/ sound)
After voiced sounds, -S says /z/, like in 'dogs' and 'birds'.
After voiced consonants and vowels, the plural -s says /z/. Most people don't notice this — it sounds natural.
Examples
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