toward
prepositionIn the direction of something or someone, as in 'She walked toward the park'.
prepositionClose to a particular time or place, as in 'toward the end of the day'.
prepositionFor the purpose of getting or achieving something, as in 'He saved money toward a new bike'.
prepositionAbout or concerning someone or something, as in 'Her attitude toward animals was kind'.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
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: OW (Long O Sound)
OW sometimes says long O, like in 'snow' and 'show'.
The spelling 'ow' can make the long O sound /oʊ/, especially at the end of a word. It can also make the /aʊ/ diphthong sound (like 'cow').
Tip
Snow falls slow — OW says long O!
Examples
Phonics Rule: W changes AR to /ɔːr/
After W, the letters AR say /ɔːr/ instead of /ɑːr/, like in 'war' and 'warm'.
W changes the sound of AR: instead of the /ɑːr/ in 'car', AR after W says /ɔːr/ (the 'or' sound): war, warm, ward, swarm, dwarf.
Tip
W changes AR to OR — war, warm, ward!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter D
The letter D makes the /d/ sound, like in 'dog', 'day', and 'dig'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
D is a voiced alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge just behind the upper front teeth, then releases with voice. It reliably makes the /d/ sound in almost all positions.
Tip
D is for dog — and dog starts with /d/!
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.