Step-by-step English Level 2: The sounds of w and x
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 letter sounds: j, v, w, x, y, z, qu chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The sounds of w and x
The letter w makes the sound /w/, as in web and wig. Round your lips to say it.
The letter x is different. It usually comes at the end of a short word, as in box, fox and six. It makes the sounds /ks/ together.
Look at the last letter of a word for x.
Key ideas
- w makes the sound /w/, as in web and wig.
- x comes at the end of box, fox and six.
- Look at the last letter to find x.
- The sound of x is two sounds joined: /k/ and /s/.
Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.
- Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.web: w six: s pen: p
- Find the name that starts with the sound /w/. That is the picture you need.web starts with w
- Write the answer. web
Check. Only web starts with w. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.web
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.web starts with w
- Write the answer. w
Check. w is the first letter of web. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.
- Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.wig: w bus: b six: s
- Find the name that starts with the sound /w/. That is the picture you need.wig starts with w
- Write the answer. wig
Check. Only wig starts with w. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Watch out
Watch out: x is not usually at the start of a word. Look for it at the end.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say "wuh" with rounded lips for w. For x, say "ks" as in fox. Ask the child to point to the last letter of box.
Exercise 1B Practice: the sounds of w and x
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.wig
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.wig starts with w
- Write the answer. w
Check. w is the first letter of wig. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.
- Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.duck: d wand: w gift: g
- Find the name that starts with the sound /w/. That is the picture you need.wand starts with w
- Write the answer. wand
Check. Only wand starts with w. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.wand
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.wand starts with w
- Write the answer. w
Check. w is the first letter of wand. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.A: box B: bug C: cow
- Find the name that ends with x. Only one name has these letters in that place.box = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. box has x at the end. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.
Method. Read the word, then find its last letter.
- Read the word from the left. Go to the last letter.box: last letter = x
- Check the end. Only the last letter is needed here.x ends box
- Write the answer. x
Check. Cover the rest: x is the last letter. ✓
Watch out. The last letter is at the right-hand end of the word.
Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.A: fox B: top C: quilt
- Find the name that ends with x. Only one name has these letters in that place.fox = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. fox has x at the end. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.
Method. Read the word, then find its last letter.
- Read the word from the left. Go to the last letter.fox: last letter = x
- Check the end. Only the last letter is needed here.x ends fox
- Write the answer. x
Check. Cover the rest: x is the last letter. ✓
Watch out. The last letter is at the right-hand end of the word.
Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.
- Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.A: six B: hat C: bus
- Find the name that ends with x. Only one name has these letters in that place.six = picture A
- Write the answer. A
Check. six has x at the end. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.
Method. Read the word, then find its last letter.
- Read the word from the left. Go to the last letter.six: last letter = x
- Check the end. Only the last letter is needed here.x ends six
- Write the answer. x
Check. Cover the rest: x is the last letter. ✓
Watch out. The last letter is at the right-hand end of the word.
Method. Compare the first letters, then find the one that is different.
- Look at the first letter of each name. Find the letter that is different.web: w wig: w jam: j
- Find the one that is different. The others all start with the same letter.jam is different
- Write the answer. jam
Check. The others start with w. ✓
Watch out. Ignore the rest of each word. Compare only the first letters.
Method. Find the first letter, then check Sam's claim.
- Say the word slowly. Look at the first letter.web
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = w
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not w
- Write the answer. No, web starts with w.
Check. web begins with w. ✓
Watch out. Look at the first letter, not a letter in the middle.