Now you catch just one sound. Not a beat, not an ending. The very first sound of the word.
Step 1: Let's Learn
Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.
Say it slowly and stop
Say mug slowly. Mmm… Stop right there. That first bit is the sound you want.
Stretchy sounds are the easiest
/m/, /s/, /f/, /l/, /n/ and /r/ can be held for as long as you like. Start with those.
Quick sounds are harder
/p/, /t/, /b/, /d/, /k/ and /g/ stop instantly. You cannot hold them, so you have to listen fast.
The sound, not the letter name
Cat starts /k/, not "see". You met this before and it will keep mattering.
Some sounds are close together
/b/ and /p/ feel almost the same in your mouth. So do /d/ and /t/. Say them slowly and feel the difference.
Why the first sound matters most
It is the one you use to sort words, to find a rhyme, and to start sounding out. It does a lot of work.
Step 2: Try It Yourself
Press the first button to hear the beginning on its own.
/m/as in mug/op/as in mopmopthe whole word
| First sound | /m/, written m |
|---|---|
| Ending | /op/, written op |
| Blended | mop |
| Is it a word? | A word you know |
| Words you know ending in op | mop, cop, hop, pop |
Say it slowly: /m/ … /op/ … mop. Then say it fast. That is blending — the sounds do not change, you just stop leaving a gap between them. Keep the op ending and change the first sound, and you get mop, cop, hop, pop. One ending, lots of words.
Step 3: Watch an Example
One step at a time.
A Stretchy One
Ana finds the first sound in sun.
- Step 1
She says it slowly. Sssss-un.
A Quick One
Sam finds the first sound in top.
- Step 1
He tries to hold the beginning. He cannot.
Two Sounds That Feel Similar
Ana cannot tell /b/ from /p/.
- Step 1
She says bat, then pat.
Step 4: Your Turn
Practice makes it stick.
The Moon
Problem 1 of 2
What is the first sound in moon?
Not the Name
Problem 2 of 2
Someone says cat starts with "see". Are they right?
Catch the Beginning
1 of 4
First sound in fish?
2 of 4
Which sound can you hold for a long time?
3 of 4
Do pig and pot start with the same sound?
4 of 4
How can you feel the difference between /b/ and /p/?
Step 5: Quick Check
Show what you know.
Question 1 of 1
What is the first sound in leg?
What You Learned
- The first sound is the very beginning of a word.
- Stretchy sounds like /m/ and /s/ are the easiest to catch.
- Quick sounds like /p/ and /t/ need fast listening.
- Always the sound, never the letter name.