How many phonemes are in the word 'extinct'?

Study for the Structured Literacy Test. Explore flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

How many phonemes are in the word 'extinct'?

The word 'extinct' has a total of six phonemes. When breaking down the word, we can identify the distinct sounds that contribute to its pronunciation: /ɛ/, /k/, /s/, /t/, /ɪ/, and /ŋ/, as well as /t/ at the end. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in a language that can distinguish one word from another, and in 'extinct,' we can clearly discern all the necessary sounds as follows: 1. The initial sound /ɛ/ as in "e." 2. The following sound /k/ as in "cat." 3. The /s/ sound. 4. The /t/ sound. 5. The vowel /ɪ/ as in "it." 6. The /ŋ/ sound at the end. Thus, the total comes to six distinct phonemes in 'extinct.'

The word 'extinct' has a total of six phonemes. When breaking down the word, we can identify the distinct sounds that contribute to its pronunciation: /ɛ/, /k/, /s/, /t/, /ɪ/, and /ŋ/, as well as /t/ at the end.

Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in a language that can distinguish one word from another, and in 'extinct,' we can clearly discern all the necessary sounds as follows:

  1. The initial sound /ɛ/ as in "e."

  2. The following sound /k/ as in "cat."

  3. The /s/ sound.

  4. The /t/ sound.

  5. The vowel /ɪ/ as in "it."

  6. The /ŋ/ sound at the end.

Thus, the total comes to six distinct phonemes in 'extinct.'

More practice questions