these
detMore than one thing or person that is near you.
detMore than one thing or person that you just talked about.
detMore than one thing or person that you are about to talk about.
pronThe things or people you are pointing to or showing someone.
"these" does not follow standard phonics patterns and should be memorized.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: TH Digraph (Voiced)
TH can make a buzzy sound /ð/, like in 'this' and 'the'. You can feel your throat vibrate!
The voiced TH /ð/ is the vibrating version. Put your hand on your throat — you can feel it buzz. This sound appears in very common words like 'the', 'this', 'that', 'they'.
Tip
Voiced TH buzzes — this, that, the!
Examples
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
Phonics Rule: Letter 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: 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
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.