SnapPhonics

surfboard

PronouncedSERF-bord

/ˈsɜːrf.ˌbɔrd/noun
  1. nounA long flat board made of wood or foam that you stand on to ride ocean waves.

  2. verbTo ride on a surfboard across waves in the ocean.

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Syllables

surfboard

2 syllables

Letters

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

ur

Phonics Rule: R-Controlled UR

Sound“er”·/ɜːr/

When R comes after U, it makes the “er” sound, like in 'turn' and 'burn'.

UR makes the same “er” sound as ER and IR. It's the least common of the three spellings.

Tip

The nurse with fur says “er”!

Examples

f

Phonics Rule: Letter F

Sound“f”·/f/

The letter F makes the /f/ sound, like in 'fish', 'fun', and 'fox'. The upper teeth touch the lower lip.

F is a voiceless labiodental fricative — the upper front teeth rest on the lower lip while air flows through to make the /f/ sound. It is very consistent.

Tip

F is for fish — and fish starts with /f/!

Examples

b

Phonics Rule: Letter B

Sound“b”·/b/

The letter B makes the /b/ sound, like in 'bat', 'big', and 'bug'. Both lips press together then release.

B is a voiced bilabial stop — both lips press together and release with voice. It always makes the /b/ sound except when silent at the end of words after m (as in 'lamb' or 'comb').

Tip

B looks like a bat — and bat starts with /b/!

Examples

oar

Phonics Rule: OAR says “or”

Sound“or”·/ɔːr/

OAR makes the “or” sound, like in 'oar', 'board', and 'roar'.

OAR is an r-controlled team saying “or” (the 'or' sound): oar, board, roar, soar, coarse.

Tip

Row the oar — oar, board, roar!

Examples

d

Phonics Rule: Letter D

Sound“d”·/d/

The letter D makes the /d/ sound, like in 'dog', 'day', and 'dig'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.

D is a voiced alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge just behind the upper front teeth, then releases with voice. It reliably makes the /d/ sound in almost all positions.

Tip

D is for dog — and dog starts with /d/!

Examples

What is SnapPhonics?

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