wouldn't
PronouncedWUU-duhnt
verbA word that means someone will not do something.
Syllables
1 syllable
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter W
Sound“w”·/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: OU says “oo”
Sound“oo (as in book)”·/ʊ/
OU can say the short “oo” sound (like 'book'), in 'could', 'would', and 'should'.
In the helper words could, would, and should, OULD says “ood” (rhyming with 'good') — the OU makes the short OO sound and the L is silent.
Tip
Could, would, should — all sound alike!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Silent L
Sound“silent”
Sometimes the L is silent — you don't say it, like in 'could', 'would', and 'half'.
In some words the L is silent. You see it, but you don't say it. This happens in the helper words could, should, and would, and in words like half, calf, calm, palm, and yolk. (When L comes before K it also goes silent — walk, talk, chalk — but there the A+L team already spells the vowel sound.)
Tip
Sometimes L is silent — you could, would, should not say it!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter D
Sound“d”·/d/
The letter D makes the /d/ sound, like in 'dog', 'day', and 'dig'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
D is a voiced alveolar stop. The tongue tip touches the ridge just behind the upper front teeth, then releases with voice. It reliably makes the /d/ sound in almost all positions.
Tip
D is for dog — and dog starts with /d/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter N
Sound“n”·/n/
The letter N makes the /n/ sound, like in 'net', 'nap', and 'nut'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
N is a voiced alveolar nasal — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while voice hums through the nose. It is one of the most common consonants in English.
Tip
N hums through the nose — say /n/ and feel the buzz!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter T
Sound“t”·/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
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