SnapPhonics

super

SOO-per/ˈsuː.pər/adjective
  1. adjectiveVery good or excellent.

  2. adverbVery or extremely.

  3. nounA person who looks after a building and fixes things in it.

Save to your word list — create a free account

Syllables

super

2 syllables

Letters

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

s

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

u

Phonics Rule: Open Syllable U — /uː/ (Long U)

In an open syllable, when U follows L, R, S, or J it says 'oo' instead of 'yoo' — like in 'su-per' and 'tru-ly'.

Same open-syllable pattern as the companion Open Syllable U (/juː/) rule, but when the lone U follows L, R, S, or J it drops the Y-glide and says pure /uː/ (su-per, ru-by, tru-ly). Same letter, different sound depending on what comes before it.

Tip

After L, R, S, J — U says oo, not yoo!

Examples

p

Phonics Rule: Letter P

The letter P makes the /p/ sound, like in 'pan', 'pig', and 'pot'. Both lips press together then pop open.

P is a voiceless bilabial stop — both lips press together and release with a puff of air but no voice. It pairs with B (which is the voiced version of the same mouth position).

Tip

P pops open — press your lips and let it POP!

Examples

er

Phonics Rule: R-Controlled ER

When R comes after E, it makes the /ɜːr/ sound, like in 'her' and 'fern'.

ER makes the same sound as IR and UR — they all say /ɜːr/. ER is the most common spelling of this sound, especially at the end of words.

Tip

ER, IR, and UR all sound the same — Bossy R wins again!

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.