SnapPhonics

wetness

WEHT-nuhs/ˈwɛt.nəs/noun
  1. nounThe state of being covered or soaked with water or liquid.

  2. nounWater or liquid on a surface or in the air.

  3. nounWeather with rain or dampness.

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Syllables

wetness

2 syllables

Letters

Phonics breakdown

w

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

e

Phonics Rule: Short E

The letter E makes a short sound, like in 'bed' and 'red'.

When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound /ɛ/. This is often confused with short I by new readers.

Tip

E says /ɛ/ like an egg on your head.

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

ness

Phonics Rule: Suffix -NESS

Adding -NESS turns a describing word into a thing, like 'happy' → 'happiness'.

The suffix -ness turns an adjective into a noun. It means 'the state of being [adjective]'. 'Happy' → 'happiness' = the state of being happy.

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.

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