youthful
adjYoung or looking young.
adjActing or behaving in a way that young people do.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter Y (Consonant)
At the start of a word or syllable, Y makes the /j/ sound, like in 'yes', 'yet', and 'yell'.
Y at the beginning of a word acts as a consonant and makes the /j/ sound. In the middle or end of a word, Y acts as a vowel (gym, happy, my). Context determines which role Y plays.
Tip
Y at the start says /j/ — yes, you got it!
Examples
Phonics Rule: OU says /uː/
OU can say the long /uː/ sound, like in 'soup', 'group', and 'you'.
OU is a flexible vowel team. Besides its common /aʊ/ sound (out, loud), it can say /uː/ as in soup, group, you, youth, and wound.
Tip
OU can say oo — soup, group, you!
Examples
Phonics Rule: TH Digraph (Unvoiced)
TH can make a soft sound /θ/, like in 'think' and 'bath'. Just air, no buzz!
The unvoiced TH /θ/ is the quiet, breathy version. Your throat doesn't vibrate. Stick your tongue between your teeth and blow air.
Tip
Unvoiced TH is quiet — think with three teeth!
Examples
Phonics Rule: Suffix -FUL
Adding -FUL means 'full of', like 'helpful' (full of help) and 'beautiful'.
The suffix -ful means 'full of' or 'having the quality of'. Note: the suffix is spelled with one L (-ful), not two (-full).
Tip
FUL means full of — helpful is full of help!
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.
