SnapPhonics

theme

THEEM/ˈθiːm/noun
  1. nounThe main subject or idea of a story, book, or piece of art.

  2. nounA tune or melody that you hear over and over in a piece of music.

  3. nounA song or piece of music that plays at the start of a film or TV show.

  4. nounA set of colors and shapes that change how a computer program or app looks.

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Syllables

theme

1 syllable

Letters

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

th

Phonics Rule: TH Digraph (Unvoiced)

TH can make a soft sound /θ/, like in 'think' and 'bath'. Just air, no buzz!

The unvoiced TH /θ/ is the quiet, breathy version. Your throat doesn't vibrate. Stick your tongue between your teeth and blow air.

Tip

Unvoiced TH is quiet — think with three teeth!

Examples

e

Phonics Rule: Silent E with E (Magic E)

In the e-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the first E say its name /iː/ — like in 'these' and 'complete'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.

In the pattern e-consonant-e (like 'these'), the final E is silent but it makes the first E say its long sound /iː/. This is the least common of the Magic-E patterns. Examples: these, theme, scene, complete, gene, eve.

Tip

Magic E makes E say its name — these, theme, complete!

Examples

m

Phonics Rule: Letter M

The letter M makes the /m/ sound, like in 'map', 'mud', and 'mop'. Both lips press together with voice through the nose.

M is a voiced bilabial nasal — both lips press together while the voice hums through the nose. Double M (mm) makes the same /m/ sound.

Tip

M hums like mmm — press your lips and hum!

Examples

e

Phonics Rule: Silent E with E (Magic E)

In the e-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the first E say its name /iː/ — like in 'these' and 'complete'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.

In the pattern e-consonant-e (like 'these'), the final E is silent but it makes the first E say its long sound /iː/. This is the least common of the Magic-E patterns. Examples: these, theme, scene, complete, gene, eve.

Tip

Magic E makes E say its name — these, theme, complete!

Examples

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