syrup
PronouncedSER-uhp
nounA thick, sweet liquid that you pour over food or mix into drinks.
nounAny thick, sticky liquid.
nounSomething that is too sweet or sentimental in a way that feels fake.
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: R-Controlled YR
Sound“er”·/ɜːr/
When R comes after Y, they team up and make the same “er” sound as ER, IR and UR — like in 'syrup'.
YR is the least common spelling of the “er” sound, but it works exactly like ER, IR and UR: the R takes over and the vowel changes. Examples: syrup, myrtle, martyr. Here Y is doing a vowel's job, as it does in gym and myth.
Tip
Even Y gets bossed by R — syrup!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Schwa
Sound“uh”·/ə/
In unstressed syllables, vowels often make a lazy 'uh' sound called schwa, like the A in 'about'.
Schwa “uh” is the most common vowel sound in English. Any vowel letter can make the schwa sound when it's in an unstressed syllable. It sounds like a quick, lazy 'uh'.
Tip
Schwa is lazy — any vowel can say 'uh' when it's not stressed!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter P
Sound“p”·/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
What is SnapPhonics?
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