A sound reference for reading together

Phonics sounds: hear it, then try it

Find a letter or letter team, listen to the sound and its example word, then choose a few sounds for practice. Share the same set or print it for reading time.

Each spelling plays the sound in its example word. Choose a few to practise, share or print.

Explore the phonics sound chart

s
/s/
as in sun
Hiss like a snake: sss.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in sun.
a
/a/
as in apple
Open your mouth: a-a-apple.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in apple.
t
/t/
as in top
Tap your tongue behind your teeth: t.
p
/p/
as in pig
A little pop of air from your lips: p.
i
/i/
as in igloo
Short and quick: i-i-insect.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in igloo.
n
/n/
as in net
Hum through your nose: nnn.
m
/m/
as in mop
Lips together and hum: mmm.
d
/d/
as in dog
Voiced tap behind your teeth: d.
o
/o/
as in octopus
Round lips: o-o-otter.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in octopus.
g
/g/
as in goat
Hard sound from your throat: g.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in goat.
c
/k/
as in cat
Usually says /k/: c-c-cat.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in cat.
k
/k/
as in kite
Same sound as hard c: k.
e
/e/
as in egg
Short e: e-e-elephant.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in egg.
u
/u/
as in umbrella
Short u: u-u-up.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in umbrella.
r
/r/
as in rat
Growl like a tiger: rrr.
h
/h/
as in hat
A quiet breath out: h.
b
/b/
as in bat
Voiced pop from your lips: b.
f
/f/
as in fan
Top teeth on bottom lip: fff.
l
/l/
as in lip
Tongue tip behind your teeth: lll.
j
/j/
as in jam
Voiced jump: j-j-jam.
q
/kw/
as in queen
Says /kw/ — and almost always brings a u along: qu.
q is nearly always written "qu" (queen, quick).
v
/v/
as in van
Top teeth on bottom lip, voice on: vvv.
w
/w/
as in web
Round your lips: w-w-web.
y
/y/
as in yes
At the start it says /y/: y-y-yes.
The consonant sound, at the start of a word (yes, yak).
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in yes.
z
/z/
as in zip
Buzz like a bee, voice on: zzz.
ck
/k/
as in duck
Two letters, one /k/ sound: duck.
The floss family's /k/ spelling: right after a short vowel at the end of a word (duck, sock, pick).
ff
/f/
as in off
Two f's, one /f/ sound: off.
The floss rule: after a short vowel at the end of a word, f doubles (off, puff, cliff).
ll
/l/
as in bell
Two l's, one /l/ sound: bell.
The floss rule: after a short vowel at the end of a word, l doubles (bell, hill, doll).
ss
/s/
as in miss
Two s's, one /s/ sound: miss.
The floss rule: after a short vowel at the end of a word, s doubles (miss, pass, mess).
zz
/z/
as in buzz
Two z's, one buzzy /z/ sound: buzz.
The floss rule: after a short vowel at the end of a word, z doubles (buzz, fizz, jazz).
sh
/sh/
as in ship
Finger to your lips: shhh.
ch
/ch/
as in chip
Like a little sneeze: ch-ch.
th
/th/
as in thin
Tongue between your teeth: th.
Unvoiced — voice off, just air (thin, bath).
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in thin.
ng
/ng/
as in ring
Hum at the back of your mouth: nng.
wh
/w/
as in when
Two letters, one /w/ sound: wh-wh-when.
wh says /w/ at the start of words: when, whale, whisk.
a–e
/ay/
as in cake
a and a silent e wrap a consonant — a says /ay/: cake.
The e on the end is silent; it makes the a say its name.
i–e
/ie/
as in bike
i with a silent e — i says /ie/: bike.
The silent e makes the i say its name.
o–e
/oh/
as in home
o with a silent e — o says /oh/: home.
The silent e makes the o say its name.
e–e
/ee/
as in these
e with a silent e — e says /ee/: these.
The silent e makes the first e say its name.
u–e
/ue/
as in cute
u with a silent e — u says /ue/: cute.
The silent e makes the u say its name.
tch
/ch/
as in catch
Three letters for /ch/ right after a short vowel.
Used right after a short vowel: catch, match, itch.
dge
/j/
as in bridge
Says /j/ right after a short vowel.
ar
/ar/
as in car
Pirate sound: arrr.
or
/or/
as in fork
Says or: or.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in fork.
er
/er/
as in her
Bossy r: er.
ir
/er/
as in bird
Bossy r: says /er/ like bird.
ur
/er/
as in fur
Bossy r: says /er/ like fur.
ai
/ay/
as in rain
Two vowels walking — a says its name: /ay/.
Used in the middle of a word.
ay
/ay/
as in play
Long a at the end of a word: /ay/.
Used at the end of a word: play, day, way.
ee
/ee/
as in tree
Long e: eee.
ea
/ee/
as in eat
Two vowels walking - e says its name: /ee/.
The long e sound: eat, sea, leaf.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in eat.
ey
/ee/
as in key
At the end of a word, ey says /ee/: key.
Often at the end of a word: key, monkey, valley.
oa
/oh/
as in boat
Long o: oh.
oe
/oh/
as in toe
Two vowels walking — o says its name: /oh/.
At the end of a word: toe, hoe, foe.
igh
/ie/
as in light
Three letters that say i's name: /ie/.
ie
/ie/
as in pie
At the end of a word, says i's name: /ie/.
Used at the end of a word: pie, tie, lie.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in pie.
oo
/oo/
as in moon
Two jobs: long as in moon, short as in book.
The long "moon" sound.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in moon.
ew
/oo/
as in new
Says /oo/ (or /ue/): ew.
Says /oo/ or /ue/ at the end: new, dew, few.
ue
/oo/
as in blue
Says /oo/ (or /ue/): ue.
Says /oo/ or /ue/ at the end: blue, true, glue.
ui
/oo/
as in fruit
u and i team up to say /oo/: fruit.
In the middle of a word: fruit, suit.
au
/aw/
as in haul
Says /aw/: au.
The /aw/ sound in the middle: haul, launch, haunt.
aw
/aw/
as in saw
Says /aw/: aw.
Often at the end of a word: saw, paw, draw.
augh
/aw/
as in caught
Four letters that say /aw/: caught.
The gh is silent: caught, taught, daughter.
oi
/oy/
as in coin
Says oy: oi.
Used in the middle of a word; at the end it is spelled oy.
oy
/oy/
as in boy
Says oy: oy.
Used at the end of a word; in the middle it is spelled oi.
ou
/ow/
as in out
Says /ow/ like shout.
The /ow/ sound in the middle of a word: out, loud, cloud.
ow
/ow/
as in cow
Two sounds: /ow/ like cow, /oh/ like snow.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in cow.
ph
/f/
as in phone
Says /f/: ph.
kn
/n/
as in knot
The k is silent — says /n/.
wr
/r/
as in write
The w is silent — says /r/.
mb
/m/
as in lamb
The b is silent - says /m/.
The b is silent at the end: lamb, thumb, climb.
gn
/n/
as in sign
The g is silent - says /n/.
The g is silent: sign, gnat, gnaw.
tion
/shun/
as in nation
Ending that says /shun/: tion.
The most common way to spell the /shun/ ending: nation, action, motion.
sion
/zhun/
as in vision
Ending that says /zhun/ or /shun/: sion.
After a vowel it says /zhun/ (vision); after a consonant it says /shun/ (mansion).
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in vision.
ture
/cher/
as in picture
Ending that says /cher/: ture.
A final stable ending: picture, nature, future.
ough
/uf/
as in rough
A tricky team with several sounds; here it says /uf/.
This team is famous for its many sounds: rough /uf/, though /oh/, thought /aw/.
This spelling has other sounds. Listen here to the sound in rough.

Start with the sound in the example

Letters have names and sounds. For reading practice, listen to the sound used in the example word. Some spellings have several sounds; this chart plays one taught sound for each spelling. It is a selection of ReadPals spellings, rather than a complete inventory of English sounds.

The recordings use the computer-generated Marin voice. Sound labels are ReadPals teaching notation, not a full phonetic transcription. Pronunciations can vary with accent. You do not need an account to listen or make a shared practice set.

Turn a few sounds into reading practice

Choose a small set your reader is learning. Listen, say each sound together and notice the example word. Keep practice short, then use the sounds in words and connected reading.

Ready to use the sounds? Hear beginning sounds in First Sound, join sounds in Stretchy Blend, or follow the blending guide.

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