Pronunciation Guide
This chart shows every sound in the Open Phonics program, in the order they are introduced. Use this as a reference when teaching. Voiced sounds use the vocal cords; whispered sounds do not. Your vocal cords vibrate. Place your hand on your throat — you can feel the buzz. Examples: mmm, aaa, rrr, ddd. No vocal cord vibration — just air. Keep these sounds quiet and short. Examples: sss, t, fff, p. Can be held and stretched: mmmmm, sssss, aaaaa. Move the pointer slowly across these sounds. Cannot be stretched — say them quickly: t, d, c, g, p, b, k. The pointer taps instead of gliding.Key Concepts
Voiced Sounds
Whispered Sounds
Continuous Sounds
Stop Sounds
Complete Sound Chart
Symbol Pronounced As In Type Lesson m mmm ram voiced 1 s sss bus whispered 1 a aaa and voiced 3 ē ēēē eat voiced 5 t t cat whispered 7 r rrr bar voiced 9 d d mad voiced 12 i iii if voiced 14 th ththth this voiced, as in this and bathe voiced 16 c c tack whispered 19 o ooo ox voiced 21 n nnn pan voiced 23 f fff stuff whispered 25 u uuu under voiced 27 l lll pal voiced 29 w www wow voiced 31 g g tag voiced 33 I (the word I) sight word voiced 34 sh shshsh wish whispered 35 ā āāā ate voiced 37 h h hat whispered 39 k k tack whispered 41 ō ōōō over voiced 43 v vvv love voiced 45 p p sap whispered 48 ar ārrr car voiced 49 ch ch touch whispered 50 e ēēē end voiced 52 b b grab voiced 54 ing iiing sing voiced 56 ī īīī ice voiced 58 y yyyē yard voiced 60 er urrr brother voiced 62 ir urrr bird same sound as er voiced 63 ur urrr burn same sound as er voiced 64 oo oooooo moon long oo, as in moon voiced 65 j j judge voiced 67 wh www why whispered 69 ȳ īīī my voiced 71 ū ūūū use voiced 74 qu kwww quick also pronounced koo voiced 74 x ksss ox whispered 75 z zzz buzz voiced 75 ea ēēē leave voiced 79 ee ēēē feet same sound as ea voiced 80 oa ōōō boat voiced 82 ay āāā day same sound as ai at end of words voiced 84 ai āāāā rain voiced 88 ou owww loud voiced 89 or orrr for r-controlled vowel voiced 91 ck k back same sound as k/c, used after short vowels whispered 93 th (unvoiced) th thing unvoiced, as in thing and math whispered 95 ŏŏ ŏŏ book short oo, as in book/look/good voiced 97 bl, cl bl, cl block, clap blend 101 fl, sl fl, sl flat, sled blend 102 br, cr br, cr brick, crab blend 103 dr, fr dr, fr drip, frog blend 104 gr, pr gr, pr grab, print blend 105 tr, str tr, str trip, strap blend 107 sp, st sp, st spot, stop blend 108 sm, sn, sw sm, sn, sw smell, snap, swim blend 109 pl, sk, sc pl, sk, sc plan, skip, scan blend 111 -nd, -nk nd, nk band, think ending blend 112 -mp, -lt, -ft mp, lt, ft jump, belt, left ending blend 113 ow (cow) owww cow diphthong voiced 115 ow (snow) ōōō snow long o spelling voiced 116 oi, oy oy oil, boy voiced 117 aw, all aw saw, ball voiced 118 igh īīī night voiced 120 kn, wr n, r know, write silent letter 121 ew ōō new voiced 122 -ed (/d/) d played after voiced sounds suffix 123 -ed (/t/) t jumped after unvoiced sounds suffix 123 -ed (/id/) id wanted after t or d suffix 123 soft c sss city c says /s/ before e, i, y whispered 124 soft g j gem g says /j/ before e, i, y voiced 124 -ct, -nt, -st ct, nt, st fact, went, fast ending blend 125 gl gl glad blend 126 spr spr spring blend 126 scr scr scream blend 127 squ skw squish blend 127 au aw cause same sound as aw voiced 128 gn n gnat silent letter 129 mb m lamb silent letter 129 gh silent ghost silent letter 130 -ld, -lf, -lp, -lk ld, lf, lp, lk cold, self, help, milk ending blend 131 -sk, -sp, -pt sk, sp, pt mask, clasp, kept ending blend 132 ff, ll, ss, zz f, l, s, z stuff, ball, miss, buzz double letters make one sound double consonant 133 -er (comparative) er bigger comparing two things suffix 135 -est est biggest suffix 135 -ly lee quickly suffix 136 -ful ful helpful suffix 137 -less les careless suffix 137 -ness nes kindness suffix 138 -tion shun action suffix 140 -sion zhun vision suffix 140 -ble, -tle, -dle bul, tul, dul table, little, middle consonant-le syllable type syllable 142 Common Mistakes to Avoid