swap
verbTo give something to someone and receive something different from them in return.
nounAn exchange where two people give each other different things.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: SW Blend
SW blends /s/ and /w/ together, like in 'swim', 'sweet', and 'swing'.
SW appears only at the beginning of words or syllables. Both sounds are clearly heard — the /s/ hiss followed immediately by the /w/ glide.
Tip
SW swoops — /sw/ swim, sweet, swing!
Examples
Phonics Rule: W changes A to /ɑ/
After W, a single A often says /ɑ/ (like 'o' in 'hot') instead of short /æ/ — like in 'want' and 'wash'.
W changes the sound of A: instead of short /æ/ (cat), A after W says /ɑ/: want, wash, watch, swan, squad, squat.
Tip
W changes A — want, wash, watch!
Examples
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
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