work
nounA job or the effort you do to earn money.
verbTo do a task using your body or mind.
verbTo operate or function as it should.
nounA book, painting, song, or other thing that someone creates.
nounThe place where you go to do your job.
verbTo shape or improve something by using your hands or tools.
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: R-Controlled OR (as /ɜːr/)
After W, the letters OR say /ɜːr/ instead of /ɔːr/ — like 'word' and 'work'.
When OR follows W, it makes the /ɜːr/ sound (same as ER, IR, UR). This is a small but predictable group of words. Companion rule to r_controlled_or.
Tip
W+OR sounds like ER — work, word, world!
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
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.