watched
verbLooked at something or someone for a period of time.
verbPaid attention to something or noticed what was happening.
verbKept guard over something or someone to keep them safe.
verbStayed alert and ready in case something dangerous happened.
verbStayed awake with someone who was sick or dying.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter W
The letter W makes the /w/ sound, like in 'win', 'wet', and 'web'. The lips round into an O shape.
W is a voiced bilabial approximant — the lips round tightly then open as voice flows. W is sometimes silent (write, wrong) and can act as a vowel in some combinations (aw, ew, ow).
Tip
W rounds your lips — make an O then say /w/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: W changes A to /ɑ/
After W, a single A often says /ɑ/ (like 'o' in 'hot') instead of short /æ/ — like in 'want' and 'wash'.
W changes the sound of A: instead of short /æ/ (cat), A after W says /ɑ/: want, wash, watch, swan, squad, squat.
Tip
W changes A — want, wash, watch!
Examples
Phonics Rule: TCH Trigraph
TCH makes the same sound as CH — /tʃ/. It comes after a short vowel, like in 'watch' and 'catch'.
TCH appears after a short vowel in a one-syllable word. It makes the same /tʃ/ sound as CH. Think of it as the 'short vowel version' of CH, similar to CK being the short vowel version of K.
Tip
Short vowel? Add a T before CH — catch, match, watch!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -ED (/t/ sound)
After unvoiced sounds like /p/, /k/, /s/, -ED says /t/, like in 'jumped' and 'walked'.
The suffix -ed has three pronunciations. After unvoiced consonants (p, k, f, s, sh, ch), -ed says /t/. The E is silent.
Tip
After a quiet sound, -ED says /t/!
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.