syllable
PronouncedSIH-luh-buhl
A small part of a word that has one vowel sound. The word "dog" has one syllable, and "do-gy" has two.
Syllables
3 syllables
Letters
Related words (same phonics pattern)
Phonics breakdown
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
Phonics Rule: Y as Short I
Sound“ih”·/ɪ/
Y can act as a vowel making the short “ih” sound, like in 'gym' and 'myth'.
When Y is the only vowel in a syllable, it often says short “ih” — common in Greek-origin words: gym, myth, system, symbol, crystal, mystery.
Tip
Y says short i — gym, myth, system!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Double Consonant
Sound“one sound”
Two of the same consonant together make just one sound, like the LL in 'ball' or TT in 'butter'.
When two identical consonants appear together, they make just one consonant sound, and the doubling signals a short vowel before it. A common case is the FLOSS rule: a one-syllable word with a short vowel doubles a final f, l, s, or z (off, ball, miss, buzz). Examples: ball, butter, happy, mitten, egg, off.
Tip
Double consonants make one sound — ball, butter, egg!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -ABLE
Sound“uh-bul”·/əbəl/
The suffix -ABLE means 'can be done'. It turns verbs into adjectives.
-ABLE means capable of: readable = can be read, washable = can be washed, breakable = can be broken. The vowel in -ABLE uses the schwa sound “uh”, making it sound like 'uh-bul'.
Tip
-ABLE means you're able to do it — readable means you can read it!
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.