The SL Sound

Learning the “Sl” Consonant Blend
The “sl” consonant blend combines the sounds of s and l, where:
/s/ is a hissing sound made by pushing air through the teeth.
/l/ is made by lifting the tongue to the roof of the mouth, just behind the upper front teeth.
When blended, the two sounds create /sl/, as in “slip.”

The following diagram shows some examples of words that start with SL. Practice saying these “sl” blend words to learn to the “sl” blend sound. Scroll down the page for more examples.

 

Examples of Words with the “Sl” Blend
“Sl” at the Beginning of Words
slide, slip, slap, slam, slice, slapstick, slope, slime, slush, slither, sleet, slow, sleek, slender, sleepy, sloppy
“Sl” in the Middle of Words (silent t)
Castle, Whistle, Hustle

How to Practice the “sl” Sound?

1. Practice the individual sounds: Say the “s” sound and the “l” sound separately, making sure each sound is clear. Then combine them to pronounce “sl.”
2. Slow down: Start slowly with words like “slam”, “slide”, and “slow”. Focus on the correct articulation of both consonants.
3. Increase speed: As you get more comfortable, increase your speed while maintaining clarity.

Practice Sentences with the “sl” Sound:
The kids love to slide down the playground.
He was careful not to slip on the wet floor.
The kitten curled up in a sleepy ball.

What Is a Blend?
Blends are two letters that begin words and each letter sound can be heard.
bl, cl, gl, sl

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Blends Words Songs Letter SL

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Phonics blends sl
Phonics reading book for children learning the ‘sl’ sound
A Slimy Slug

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Learn the Sounds of the Letters

Learning Short Vowels

Short Vowels
Short A	Short E	Short I
Short O	Short U	Short Vowels

Learning Long Vowels

Long Vowels
Long A	Long E	Long I
Long O	Long U	Y (vowel)
Long Vowels	Short, Long Vowels

Compare Short & Long Vowels

Short & Long Vowels
Short & Long A	Short & Long E	Short & Long I
Short & Long O	Short & Long U	Short I & Long E

Learning Consonants

Consonants
Letter B	Hard C	Soft C
Letter D	Letter F	Hard G
Soft G	Letter H	Letter J
Letter K	Letter L	Letter M
Letter N	Letter P	Letter Q
Letter R	Letter S	Letter T
Letter V	Letter W	Letter X
Letter Y	Letter Z	S & Z Sounds

Consonant Blends
BL Sound	CL Sound	FL Sound
GL Sound	PL Sound	SL Sound
BR Sound	CR Sound	DR Sound
FR Sound	GR Sound	PR Sound
TR Sound	SK Sound	SN Sound
SP Sound	ST Sound	Str, Scr, Spr
Nd, Nt, Nk

Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.

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