Step-by-step English Level 2: The sounds of y and z
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 y and z
The letter y makes the sound /y/, as in yam, yak and yo-yo.
The letter z makes the sound /z/, as in zip and zebra. It buzzes, like a bee.
Read the first letter of each name, then choose the picture that matches the sound.
Key ideas
- y makes the sound /y/, as in yam and yak.
- z makes the sound /z/, as in zip and zebra.
- Look at the first letter of each name.
- Say /z/ with a buzz, like a bee.
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.bat: b hen: h yam: y
- Find the name that starts with the sound /y/. That is the picture you need.yam starts with y
- Write the answer. yam
Check. Only yam starts with y. ✓
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.yam
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.yam starts with y
- Write the answer. y
Check. y is the first letter of yam. ✓
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.sock: s yak: y zero: z
- Find the name that starts with the sound /y/. That is the picture you need.yak starts with y
- Write the answer. yak
Check. Only yak starts with y. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.
Watch out
Watch out: zero starts with z but it is a number. Read the name, not the number shape.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Let the child buzz for z and say "yuh" for y. Point to each letter in the picture name.
Exercise 1C Practice: the sounds of y and z
Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.
- Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.yak
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.yak starts with y
- Write the answer. y
Check. y is the first letter of yak. ✓
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.yo-yo: y pig: p tin: t
- Find the name that starts with the sound /y/. That is the picture you need.yo-yo starts with y
- Write the answer. yo-yo
Check. Only yo-yo starts with y. ✓
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.yo-yo
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.yo-yo starts with y
- Write the answer. y
Check. y is the first letter of yo-yo. ✓
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.hen: h zip: z dog: d
- Find the name that starts with the sound /z/. That is the picture you need.zip starts with z
- Write the answer. zip
Check. Only zip starts with z. ✓
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.zip
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.zip starts with z
- Write the answer. z
Check. z is the first letter of zip. ✓
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.fish: f zebra: z cat: c
- Find the name that starts with the sound /z/. That is the picture you need.zebra starts with z
- Write the answer. zebra
Check. Only zebra starts with z. ✓
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.zebra
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.zebra starts with z
- Write the answer. z
Check. z is the first letter of zebra. ✓
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.zero: z jug: j mug: m
- Find the name that starts with the sound /z/. That is the picture you need.zero starts with z
- Write the answer. zero
Check. Only zero starts with z. ✓
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.zero
- Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.zero starts with z
- Write the answer. z
Check. z is the first letter of zero. ✓
Watch out. Use the first letter only.
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.yam: y yak: y 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 y. ✓
Watch out. Ignore the rest of each word. Compare only the first letters.
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.zip: z zebra: z 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 z. ✓
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.yam
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = y
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not y
- Write the answer. No, yam starts with y.
Check. yam begins with y. ✓
Watch out. Look at the first letter, not a letter in the middle.
Method. Find the first letter, then check Sam's claim.
- Say the word slowly. Look at the first letter.zip
- Find the first letter. The first letter gives the first sound.first letter = z
- Compare with what Sam said. The two letters must match.s is not z
- Write the answer. No, zip starts with z.
Check. zip begins with z. ✓
Watch out. Look at the first letter, not a letter in the middle.