Cheat sheet for vowels
Homonyms Synonyms Antonyms
(homophones) (same) (opposites)
Homonyms are words that have Synonyms are words that have Antonyms are words that mean
the same pronunciation, but the same or nearly the same the opposite or nearly the
have different spellings and meaning. opposite of each other.
different meanings.
Examples: Examples: Examples:
-The knight rode all night. smile grin add subtract
-I write with my right hand. fly soar start finish
-He won one big trophy. love adore right wrong
-I ate eight cupcakes. yell shout front back
-There is a flower on the bag of gift present hot cold
flour. sea ocean wet dry
-I have two puppies, too. fast swift big small
-I like to play with two friends. small tiny dirty clean
-I can see all the way to the
sea.
Nouns Verbs Adjectives
Nouns are words that name Verbs are action words. A verb Adjectives are describing
objects. A noun is a person, tells an action or what someone words. An adjective describes
place or thing. or something is doing. an something or somebody.
Examples: Examples: Examples:
Person Place Thing I can _____. She is _____.
girl park purse
boy yard desk
teacher school table
ride pretty
mother zoo chair play brave
clerk Atlanta pencil skip nice
child Kennesaw paper hop funny
baby read kind
write mean
color playful
throw silly
look super
touch
General Phonics Rules
Vowels
The vowels are a, e, i, o and u. Sometimes y and w can be vowels.
Consonants
The consonants are the remaining letters and usually y and w.
Long Vowels
Long vowels say their name. (a in make, e in meat)
Short Vowels
Short vowels are as follows:
- a in cat - e in fed
- i in sit - o in hot - u in rub
Syllables
Syllables are word parts. Children find it handy to clap out syllables. Try these words:
Butterfly – 3 syllables
Right – 1 syllable
Super – 2 syllables
Short Vowel Rule
If a word or syllable has only one vowel and it comes at the beginning or between two
consonants, the vowel is usually short. (a in apple, i in igloo, a in cat, o in rocket)
Long Vowel Rule #1
If a word or syllable has 2 vowels, the first vowel is usually long and the second is silent.
(ai in rain, ee in jeep, a_e in cane, i_e in kite)
Long Vowel Rule #2
If a word or syllable has one vowel and the vowel comes at the end of the word or syllable, the
vowel is usually long. (e in we, o in go, e in begin, o in hotel)
Y as a vowel Rule
1. If Y is the only vowel at the end of a one-syllable word, Y has the sound of a long i. (fly,
by, try)
2. If Y is the only vowel at the end of a word with 2 or more syllables, Y has the sound of
long e. (silly, funny, baby)
C and G Rule
1. When C is followed by e, i or y, it will usually make the S sound. (lace, city)
2. When G is followed by e, i or y, it will usually make the J sound. (gym, giraffe)
ck rule
When the hard C sound is heard after a short vowel, it is spelled with a ck.
(packet, tick, tock, deck, duck)
Short Vowel Sounds
A short vowel sound is usually heard when there is only one
vowel in the word or syllable.
ă căt, magnet, lap
ĕ lĕg, pen, beg
ĭ pĭn, piglet, twig
ŏ tŏp, rocket, drop
ŭ tŭb, jump, rub
Long Vowel Sounds
Long vowel sounds are heard when there is more than one
vowel in a word or syllable. The first vowel says its name and
the second vowel is silent.
In class, we often say the following to help your child remember this:
1. When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.
2. When two vowels are in a word or a syllable, the first one says
it’s name and the second vowel is silent.
ā cāne, pain, day
ē mēet, eat, Pete
ī fīne, wipe, pie
ō lōan, phone, tone
ū ūse, fuse, cue
Long Vowel Combinations
---Long A---says it’s name in the following words:
(the blank represents a consonant)
a_e ai ay a
ate braid play maple
shade maid say table
scale may
---Long E---says it’s name in the following words:
(the blank represents a consonant)
e_e ee _y ea e ie_
Steve feet crazy beach me field
Pete need funny read he chief
---Long I---says it’s name in the following words:
(the blank represents a consonant)
i_e igh _y _ie i
bite fight cry pie hi
slide sigh my
---Long O---says it’s name in the following words:
(the blank represents a consonant)
o_e oa ow o
slope boat snow go
rode row
---Long U---says it’s name in the following words:
(the blank represents a consonant)
u_e u
cube unicorn
Dipthongs
A dipthong is a compound vowel sound produced by
combining 2 simple vowels.
For example:
oi point, coins
oy boy, toy
ou loud, cloud
ow clown, cow
oo look, hood
aw hawk, straw
au auto, saucer
ew blew, flew, new
ea ready, bread, head
ow row, blow, show
ue blue, glue
Diagraphs
A diagraph is a pair of letters expressing one sound.
For example:
th thumb, thief, three
wh wheat, whale, wheel
ch lunch, chess, chase
tch watch, scratch, ditch
sh shower, fish, shark
ng ring, string, angle
Blends
A blend is two letters blended together to
make a sound.
For example:
bl blue, blur
cl click, clock
fl flock, flew
gl glide, glee
pl please, plot
sl slide, slender
br bread, brick bridge
cr crib, crate, creek
dr drop, dress
fr fresh, refresh
gr grapes, grand
pr president, pride
tr trail, trip
