tile
nounA flat piece of hard material used to cover walls, floors, or roofs.
nounA small flat piece used in games like dominoes or Scrabble.
verbTo cover a surface with tiles.
nounA small square picture or button on a computer screen.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter T
The letter T makes the /t/ sound, like in 'top', 'tap', and 'ten'. The tongue tip taps behind the upper teeth.
T is a voiceless alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth and releases with a puff of air. Double T (tt) makes the same /t/ sound.
Tip
T taps — touch your tongue to make /t/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with I (Magic E)
In the i-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the I say its name — like in 'bike' and 'time'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the pattern i-consonant-e (like 'bike'), the final E is silent but makes the I say its long sound /aɪ/.
Tip
Magic E makes I say its name!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter L
The letter L makes the /l/ sound, like in 'lamp', 'leg', and 'lip'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
L is a voiced lateral approximant — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while air flows around the sides. Double L (ll) makes the same /l/ sound.
Tip
L is for lamp — light it up with /l/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent E with I (Magic E)
In the i-consonant-e pattern, the E at the end is silent and makes the I say its name — like in 'bike' and 'time'. Teachers often call this the Magic E.
In the pattern i-consonant-e (like 'bike'), the final E is silent but makes the I say its long sound /aɪ/.
Tip
Magic E makes I say its name!
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.