usually
PronouncedYOO-zhuh-wuh-lee
advMost of the time, but not every time.
advIn the way that is normal or expected.
Syllables
4 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Open Syllable U — “yoo” (Long U)
Sound“yoo”·/juː/
When U is the last letter of a syllable, the syllable is open and the U says its name with a /j/ glide — like in 'mu-sic' and 'hu-man'.
This is the open-syllable pattern: a syllable that ends in a vowel leaves it 'open', so it says its long name. Here, a lone U at the end of a syllable says “yoo” (mu-sic, hu-man, u-nit). After L, R, S, or J the Y-glide drops and U says “oo” instead — see the companion Open Syllable U (“oo”) rule.
Tip
Long U says its name with a YOO sound!
Examples
Phonics Rule: S says “zh”
Sound“zh”·/ʒ/
Between a vowel and U or URE, S can say “zh” — the sound in the middle of 'measure' and 'usual'.
The “zh” sound is soft and buzzing, like the middle of 'measure', 'treasure', 'pleasure', 'usual', and 'vision'. It often comes from an S before U or URE. It is the voiced partner of “sh”.
Tip
S buzzes to “zh” — it's a pleasure to measure!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Schwa
Sound“uh”·/ə/
In unstressed syllables, vowels often make a lazy 'uh' sound called schwa, like the A in 'about'.
Schwa “uh” 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
Phonics Rule: Schwa
Sound“uh”·/ə/
In unstressed syllables, vowels often make a lazy 'uh' sound called schwa, like the A in 'about'.
Schwa “uh” 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
Phonics Rule: Letter L
Sound“l”·/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: Suffix -LY
Sound“lee”·/li/
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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