Six Syllable Types

The syllable type is determined by what comes after the vowel in the syllable. Over ninety percent of English words adhere to the six syllable type sound-spelling pattern.

Closed 
A closed syllable ends in a consonant. The vowel has a short vowel sound, as in the word cat. Each word ends in one vowel and at least one consonant. Closed syllables are the most frequent syllable type in English. 
Examples: 
"short" sound 
a (as in apple, rat) 
e (as in Ed, sell) 
i (as in itch, it) 
o (as in odd, dock) 
u (as in up, stump)

Open 
An open syllable ends in a vowel. The vowel has a long vowel sound, as in the first syllable of apron. In an open syllable, the vowel ends the syllable. The accented syllable is long. 
Examples: 
“long” sound 
a (as in “fa-ble”) 
e (as in “she”) 
i (as in “hi”) 
o (as in “so”) 
u (as in “u-nit”) 

Vowel, consonant, silent e 
In a VCE word, the syllable is usually found at the end of a word. The final e is silent and the vowel is long, as in the word came. The word ends in one vowel, at least one consonant, and a final e. The e is silent; the vowel is long. 
Examples: 
“long” sound 
a (as in made, lake, grade) 
i (as in five, vice, smile) 
o (as in hope, bone) 

Vowel diagraphs and diphthongs 
The vowel digraph syllable has two adjacent vowels that make one sound. The vowel diphthong syllable has two adjacent vowels that blend together. The vowel sound is represented by two or more vowel letters. Most, but not all, of these vowel sounds are “long” vowel sounds. Multiple spelling options make symbol memory important for the correct spelling of vowel teams. 
Examples: 
“long” sound 
ai (as in “brain, lay) 
ee (as in beef, clean) 

‘short’ sound 
ea (as in wear, sweater, bread) 

‘diphthong’ (a gliding vowel) 
oy, oi/ow, ou, boil, boy, cow, loud.

r - controled vowel 
The word contains a vowel followed by the letter r. One r follows one vowel. The vowel makes an unexpected sound, as in the word car. 
Examples: 
An "r" comes after the vowel. 
-ar warm 
-or sort, pert, fur 
-er (spelled ir, er or ur) fir 

Consonant + le 
The word contains three letters: consonant + l + e. 
Examples include the second syllable in the words pickle, handle, puzzle, and middle. 
Pronunciation and spelling never changes for an unaccented syllable in the final position of a word.

Play the game.

How to Use the Game

1. Click on a syllable type button (Closed, Open, VCE, etc.) to identify the syllable in the word.
2. Feedback will show immediately with a brief explanation.
3. The correct syllable is highlighted in green when you are correct; incorrect selections flash red.
4. The game automatically advances to the next word after your choice.
5. Download word lists using the links below to try different sets.
6. Repeat to practice different syllable types.
7. Example 1: Word: c[at]. Click Closed because the syllable ends in a consonant and the vowel is short.
8. Example 2: Word: fa-ble. Click Open for the first syllable because it ends in a vowel and is long.