Clapping Syllables

Every word has beats

Words are made of little beats. We call each beat a syllable. The fun way to hear them is to clap! Clap once for every beat you hear.

Clap with me

Say a word and clap each beat. Listen carefully.

• cat 🐱 → clap! — 1 beat
• rab-bit 🐰 → clap-clap! — 2 beats
• but-ter-fly 🦋 → clap-clap-clap! — 3 beats

Can you hear how big words have more claps?

Try the chin trick

Put your hand flat under your chin. Say a word slowly. Every time your chin drops down, that is one syllable! Try el-e-phant 🐘. Your chin drops 3 times.

Practise these words

Say each word and clap the beats. How many claps?

Word	Claps
sun ☀️	1
ap-ple 🍎	2
ba-na-na 🍌	3
dog 🐶	1
din-o-saur 🦕	3

Clap your name

Now clap your own name! Say it slowly and clap each beat. Is your name 1 clap, 2 claps, or 3? Clap a friend's name too. 🎉

Why it helps

Clapping syllables helps you break big words into small chunks. When you read a long word, clap it first. Then read one chunk at a time.

Great clapping!

You can now hear the beats in words. Keep clapping words you see every day.

Next, try Rhyming Words and Blending Sounds into Words.