unlikely
adjNot expected to happen or be true.
adjNot having a good chance of working or succeeding.
Syllables
3 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
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
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
Phonics Rule: Letter K
The letter K makes the /k/ sound, like in 'kite', 'kit', and 'king'.
K always makes the /k/ sound. It is used before E, I, and Y where C would make an /s/ sound instead. K is silent before N at the start of a word (knife, know).
Tip
K is for kite — and kite starts with /k/!
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: Suffix -LY
Adding -LY to a word usually makes it describe HOW something is done, like 'slowly' and 'quickly'.
The suffix -ly usually turns an adjective into an adverb. 'Slow' → 'slowly' means 'in a slow way'.
Examples
What is SnapPhonics?
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