wren
PronouncedREHN
nounA small brown bird with a short tail.
nameA famous English architect who lived a long time ago.
nounA woman who works in the navy.
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Silent W in WR
Sound“r”·/r/
In WR, the W is silent! You only say /r/, like in 'write' and 'wrong'.
When W comes before R at the beginning of a word, the W is silent. You only pronounce the R.
Tip
W is silent when R is right — write it right!
Examples
When the letter E appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short E sound “eh”. This is often confused with short I by new readers.
Tip
E says “eh” like an egg on your head.
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
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.
