Pronounciation
Pronounciation
Clear sounds matter—help children hear, say, and
Clear sounds matter—help children hear, say, and
refine words with confidence.
refine words with confidence.
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Vowel Sounds
Vowel Sounds
👉 Top tips:
- Say sounds, not letter names (e.g. say /b/ not bee).
- Keep sounds short and clean (avoid adding “uh”).
- Exaggerate mouth shapes at first—children learn visually too.
Short Vowel Sounds (quick, relaxed sounds)
Short Vowel Sounds (quick, relaxed sounds)
/a/ as in catMouth open, relaxed: “ah”
Words: cat, ant, map
Memory tip: Open your mouth wide like you’re at the doctor—“ah!”
.................
/e/ as in bedSmall smile, relaxed: “eh”
Words: bed, pen, red
Memory tip: Sounds like you’re unsure: “eh?”.................
/i/ as in sitLips slightly apart, smile: “ih”
Words: sit, pin, fish
Memory tip: A tiny sound for a tiny dot on the i.................
/o/ as in hotMouth open and round: “oh” (short)
Words: hot, dog, box
Memory tip: Surprised sound—but quick!.................
/u/ as in cupRelaxed mouth: “uh”
Words: cup, sun, bug
Memory tip: Tired sound: “uh…”
Long Vowel Sounds (say the letter’s name)
Long Vowel Sounds (say the letter’s name)
/ā/ as in cakeSounds like “ay”
Words: cake, rain, play
Memory tip: The vowel says its name!
.................
/ē/ as in seeLong smiling sound
Words: see, tree, me
Memory tip: Big smile = long ee.................
/ī/ as in timeSounds like “eye”
Words: time, bike, fly
Memory tip: Point to your eye.................
/ō/ as in homeLong rounded sound
Words: home, boat, snow
Memory tip: Ohhh… nice and long.................
/ū/ as in useSounds like “you”
Words: use, cube, music
Memory tip: Point to yourself: “you!”
The Magic e Rule (also called “Silent e”)
The Magic e Rule (also called “Silent e”)
Sometimes there is an e at the end of a word that we don’t say.
This 'magic e' has a special job.
This 'magic e' has a special job.
- Without magic e, the vowel is short:
hop → /o/ as in hot
kit → /i/ as in sit
👉 The magic e makes the vowel before it say its name instead of its short sound.
- Add the magic e, and the vowel becomes long:
- Add the magic e, and the vowel becomes long:
hop → hope
kit → kite
The e stays silent, but it changes the vowel.
👉 Top tip: What the Magic e Does Not Do
This helps avoid confusion later.👉 Top tip: What the Magic e Does Not Do
- The magic e does not make a sound
- It usually only changes the first vowel
- It does not work in every word (English likes to break rules!)
You can simply say: “This word doesn’t follow the magic e rule.”
Tricky Vowel Pairs (Very common & confusing)
Tricky Vowel Pairs (Very common & confusing)
/oo/ as in book (short oo)
Memory tip: A quick peek in a book
- Lips relaxed, not tight
- Try saying “uh” then rounding slightly
Memory tip: A quick peek in a book
/oo/ as in broom (long oo)
Memory tip: Blowing bubbles with your lips
- Lips tight and rounded
- Hold the sound longer
Memory tip: Blowing bubbles with your lips
👉 Top tip:
If your lips are tight → broom
If relaxed → book
If your lips are tight → broom
If relaxed → book
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