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Consonant LE

Count Back 3: Chop the Syllables

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SYLLABLE TYPES

The consonant LE syllable type always appears at the end of a word. The method: count back 3 letters from the end (finding the C in CLE), then chop there to split the syllables. If the first part is a closed syllable (ends in a consonant), the vowel is short. If it is an open syllable (ends in a vowel) or a vowel team, the vowel is long.

Words in This Song

SPELLING WORDS

Short vowel (closed first syllable)

cattle pebble giggle waddle puddle bubble little uncle

Long vowel (open or vowel team first syllable)

able needle eagle cable table maple purple

Spelling Word List

15 consonant LE words: both short vowel (closed syllable) and long vowel (open syllable) types.

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The Rule

HOW IT WORKS
Consonant LE: Count Back 3, Then Chop
1

Find the word ending in -CLE, -BLE, -DLE, -TLE, -GLE, -PLE etc. (consonant + LE)

2

Count back 3 letters from the end and chop there to split into syllables

3

Look at the first syllable: if it ends in a consonant (closed) → short vowel. If it ends in a vowel (open) → long vowel

cat tle → closed syllable → short vowel: cattle
A ble → open syllable → long vowel: able
Nee dle → vowel team → long vowel: needle

Tricky Consonant LE Words

WATCH OUT
These words need extra attention
people

peo•ple: the first syllable has a vowel team (eo) making a long /ee/ sound. The consonant LE rule still applies: it is just an unusual first syllable type.

circle / purple

The first syllable is R-controlled (cir•cle, pur•ple). R changes the vowel sound, so it does not fit neatly into "short" or "long": it is a third syllable type. The count-back-3 method still works to chop the syllables.

muscle / castle

These look like they should split easily but have silent consonants in the middle: the SC in muscle and the ST in castle include a letter that is not pronounced. The count-back-3 still applies from the end.

Lyrics

Consonant LE Syllable Type Rap

Are you ready to learn about the consonant LE syllable type?

CHORUS

Consonant LE: count back three.
1, 2, 3: chop syllables. Let's read.

VERSE 1: SHORT VOWEL WORDS

cat | tul → cattle. Closed syllable: cat. Short vowel.
peb | bul → pebble. Closed syllable: peb. Short vowel.
gig | gul → giggle. Closed syllable: gig. Short vowel.
wat | dul → waddle. Closed syllable: wat. Short vowel.
pud | dul → puddle. Closed syllable: pud. Short vowel.

CHORUS

Consonant LE: count back three.
1, 2, 3: chop syllables. Let's read.

VERSE 2: LONG VOWEL WORDS

A | bul → able. Open syllable: A. Long vowel, consonant LE.
Nee | dul → needle. Vowel team: Nee. Long vowel, consonant LE.
Ea | gul → eagle. Vowel team: Ea. Long vowel, consonant LE.
Ca | bul → cable. Open syllable: Ca. Long vowel, consonant LE.

Consonant LE: count back three. One, two, three...