wrinkle
nounA small line or crease in skin, especially one that appears as someone gets older.
nounA small fold or crease in a surface that was smooth before.
verbTo make something have folds or creases in it.
verbTo become creased or uneven and lose its smooth shape.
nounA small problem or fault that needs to be fixed in something new.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Silent W in WR
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
Phonics Rule: Short I
The letter I makes a short sound, like in 'sit' and 'big'.
When the letter I appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short I sound /ɪ/. This is one of the trickiest short vowels because it sounds similar to short E.
Tip
I says /ɪ/ like an itch you can't miss.
Examples
Phonics Rule: NK End Blend
NK at the end of a syllable makes the /ŋk/ sound, like in 'sink', 'bank', and 'drink'.
NK blends the nasal /ŋ/ (like in 'sing') with /k/. The N in NK is not a regular /n/ — it shifts to /ŋ/ because of the K that follows.
Tip
NK ends with a clunk — sink, bank, drink!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter L
The letter L makes the /l/ sound, like in 'lamp', 'leg', and 'lip'. The tongue tip touches behind the upper teeth.
L is a voiced lateral approximant — the tongue tip touches the ridge behind the upper teeth while air flows around the sides. Double L (ll) makes the same /l/ sound.
Tip
L is for lamp — light it up with /l/!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Schwa
In unstressed syllables, vowels often make a lazy 'uh' sound called schwa, like the A in 'about'.
Schwa /ə/ is the most common vowel sound in English. Any vowel letter can make the schwa sound when it's in an unstressed syllable. It sounds like a quick, lazy 'uh'.
Tip
Schwa is lazy — any vowel can say 'uh' when it's not stressed!
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.