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All phonics

Phase 5 · Set 19

Sounds: alternative sounds for known letters

Tap a card to hear its sound, then say it. Look at the pictures. Tap the letters to blend a word.

Same letters, new sounds

Look and say

  • babybaby
  • giantgiant
  • snowsnow
  • soupsoup
  • schoolschool
  • monkeymonkey

Tap to blend

Tap a letter to hear its sound. Tap the play button to blend the sounds into a word.

Read it

The giant sat by the window and ate soup.

Set 18

Now play

For grown-ups

What to do: let your child tap a card, listen, and say the sound back. Then look at the pictures and say each word. Finish by blending a few words and reading the sentence together. Ten minutes is plenty.

Mouth tips

  • a (/eɪ/): Start with the mouth half open and slide to a smile. As in rain.
  • a (/ɒ/): Mouth open and rounded, as if surprised. A short sound, as in dog.
  • i (/aɪ/): Start with the mouth open wide and slide up to a small smile. As in night.
  • o (/əʊ/): Lips round and slide to a small circle. As in boat.
  • o (/ʌ/): Mouth relaxed and open a little, tongue flat. A short sound, as in cup.
  • e (/iː/): A wide smile, tongue high. Hold it. As in tree.
  • y (/aɪ/): Start with the mouth open wide and slide up to a small smile. As in night.
  • y (/iː/): A wide smile, tongue high. Hold it. As in tree.
  • ow (/əʊ/): Lips round and slide to a small circle. As in boat.
  • ea (/e/): Mouth half open, a small smile. A short sound, as in bed.
  • ie (/iː/): A wide smile, tongue high. Hold it. As in tree.
  • c (/s/): Teeth almost closed, tongue behind them. Let the air hiss out. No voice, just a quiet hiss.
  • g (/j/): Start like d, then let the air slide out as a buzz. Voice on. Keep it short.
  • ch (/k/): Back of the tongue lifts to the roof of the mouth, then drops with a small puff. No voice.
  • ch (/ʃ/): Lips pushed forward and rounded, teeth close, a long quiet rush of air. The 'be quiet' sound.
  • ou (/uː/): Lips pushed forward in a small circle. Hold it. As in moon.
  • ou (/ʌ/): Mouth relaxed and open a little, tongue flat. A short sound, as in cup.
  • ear (/eə/): Mouth half open, then relax into a soft uh. As in hair.
  • ear (/ɜː/): Lips relaxed and slightly open, tongue in the middle. A long sound, as in burn.
  • ey (/eɪ/): Start with the mouth half open and slide to a smile. As in rain.
  • er (/ɜː/): Lips relaxed and slightly open, tongue in the middle. A long sound, as in burn.

Tricky words in this set: thought, through, work, mouse, many, laughed, because, different, any, eyes, friends, once, please. See the tricky words page.

Follow your own programme. This order follows the general Letters and Sounds phase order (GOV.UK, 2007, now historical). Schools in England choose their own phonics programme. The DfE publishes a list of validated programmes (there is no legal requirement to use one), and each programme orders the sounds a little differently. If your school has one, practise in its order and use these pages for extra listening and reading.

More: phonics notes for parents and teachers, phonics phases explained.