SnapPhonics

unity

YOO-nuh-tee/ˈjuː.nə.tiː/noun

When people work together as one group with the same goal or feeling.

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Syllables

unity

3 syllables

Letters

Related words (same phonics pattern)

Phonics breakdown

un

Phonics Rule: Prefix UN-

UN- means 'not' or 'the opposite of'. 'Unhappy' means 'not happy'.

The prefix un- is added to the beginning of a word to mean 'not' or to reverse an action. 'Happy' → 'unhappy' (not happy). 'Do' → 'undo' (reverse doing).

Tip

UN makes it undone — unhappy, unfair, unlike!

Examples

i

Phonics Rule: Schwa

In unstressed syllables, vowels often make a lazy 'uh' sound called schwa, like the A in 'about'.

Schwa /ə/ 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

t

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

y

Phonics Rule: Y as Long E

When Y is at the end of a longer word, it says long E, like in 'happy' and 'funny'.

When Y appears at the end of a multi-syllable word, it makes the long E sound /iː/. Very common in adjectives (happy, funny, silly) and nouns (baby, candy).

Tip

Y at the end of a long word says EEE — happy, funny, baby!

Examples

What is SnapPhonics?

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