who's
PronouncedHOOZ
contractionA short way to say 'who is'.
contractionA short way to say 'who has'.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Related words (same phonics pattern)
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: WH Digraph
Sound“w”·/w/
WH at the start of a word usually sounds like /w/, like in 'when' and 'what'.
In most American English, 'wh' sounds the same as 'w'. It appears at the beginning of question words (who, what, when, where, why) and other common words.
Tip
WH asks questions — when, what, where, why!
Examples
Phonics Rule: O says “oo”
Sound“oo”·/uː/
In a few little words the single O says 'oo', like in 'do', 'who', and 'to'.
Usually O says its short or long sound, but in a small set of common words a lone O makes the “oo” sound instead — do, who, to, two, into, onto, tomb, womb. These words are learned by heart.
Tip
Who will do it? O says oo!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Plural -S (/z/ sound)
Sound“z”·/z/
After a buzzing sound or a vowel, the plural ending says /z/ — like 'dogs' and 'shoes'.
Put a finger on your throat and say 'zzzz' — you feel a buzz. When the word ends in a buzzing (voiced) sound or a vowel, the plural ending buzzes too and says /z/. This happens whether the word is spelled -s (dogs) or -es (shoes, trees), because in shoes the e is silent and only the s is sounded. Most people never notice they are doing this.
Examples
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