sp- and st- In American English

Consonant Clusters Beginning with sp- and st-

Two of the most common combinations of the sound /s/ in clusters are sp- and st-. This drill will focus on these two combinations, presenting simple clusters before and after vowels, as well as more complex clusters with three consonants. In other words, the drill includes the following patterns:

Vowel + Consonant + Consonant (VCC)

Vowel + Consonant + Consonant + Consonant (VCCC)

Consonant + Consonant + Vowel (CCV)

Consonant + Consonant + Consonant + Vowel (CCCV)

sp- Clusters

Repeat each words aloud at least 3 times. The words in this set include consonant clusters, so they might require extra practice.

Step 1: Vowel + Consonant + Consonant

Short i + s + p → /ɪsp/

Example

crisp, wisp, lisp

æ + s + p → /æsp/

Example

gasp, rasp, clasp

a + s + p → /ɑsp/

Example

wasp

Short a + s + p → /ʌsp/

Example

cusp

Step 2: Vowel + Consonant + Consonant + Consonant

Short i + s + p + t → /ɪspt/

Example

crisped, wisped, lisped

æ + s + p + t → /æspt/

Example

gasped, rasped, clasped

Step 3: Consonant + Consonant + Vowel

s + p + i → /spi/

Example

speak, speed, spear

s + p + Short i → /spɪ/

Example

spit, spin, spill

s + p + Short e → /spɛ/

Example

spend, spell, speck

s + p + æ → /spæ/

Example

spat, span, spam

s + p + a → /spɑ/

Example

spa, spar, spark

s + p + Short a → /spʌ/

Example

spun, spud

s + p + o → /spɔ/

Example

sport, spork

s + p + u → /spu/

Example

spoon, spook, spool

s + p + eɪ → /speɪ/

Example

space, spade, spate

s + p + aɪ → /spaɪ/

Example

spy, spice, spike

s + p + aɪ → /spɔɪ/

Example

spoil

s + p + aʊ → /spaʊ/

Example

spouse, spout

s + p + Long o → /spoʊ/

Example

spoke

Step 4: Consonant + Consonant + Consonant + Vowel

s + p + l + i → /spli/

Example

spleen

s + p + l + Short i → /splɪ/

Example

split, splint, splish

s + p + l + Short e → /splɛ/

Example

splendor, splendid

s + p + l + æ → /splæ/

Example

splash, splat

s + p + l + a → /splɑ/

Example

splotch

s + p + l + eɪ → /spleɪ/

Example

splay

s + p + l + aɪ → /splaɪ/

Example

splice, spline

s + p + r + Short i → /sprɪ/

Example

spring, sprint

s + p + r + Short e → /sprɛ/

Example

spread

s + p + r + æ → /spræ/

Example

sprat, sprang

s + p + r + a → /sprɑ/

Example

sprawl

s + p + r + Short a → /sprʌ/

Example

sprung

s + p + r + aɪ → /spraɪ/

Example

spry, sprite

s + p + r + eɪ → /spreɪ/

Example

spray

s + p + r + aʊ → /spraʊ/

Example

sprout

s + p + j + u → /spju/

Example

spew, spume

st- Clusters

Repeat each words aloud at least 3 times. The words in this set include consonant clusters, so they might require extra practice.

Step 1: Vowel + Consonant + Consonant

i + s + t → /ist/

Example

east, beast, feast

Short i + s + t → /ɪst/

Example

list, mist, gist

Short e + s + t → /ɛst/

Example

best, rest, nest

æ + s + t → /æst/

Example

past, cast, last

a + s + t → /ɑst/

Example

cost, lost, frost,

Short a + s + t → /ʌst/

Example

rust, must, just

u + s + t → /ust/

Example

boost, roost

eɪ + s + t → /eɪst/

Example

paste, waste, taste

aɪ + s + t → /aɪst/

Example

iced, heist, Christ

ɔɪ + s + t → /ɔɪst/

Example

hoist, moist, foist

Long o + s + t → /oʊst/

Example

most, post, roast

Step 2: Vowel + Consonant + Consonant + Consonant

eɪ + s + t + s→ tastes

Example

tastes, wastes, pastes

i + s + t + s → /ists/

Example

beasts, feasts, priests

Short i + s + t + s → /ɪsts/

Example

lists, fists, wrists

Short e + s + t + s → /ɛsts/

Example

tests, rests, nests

æ + s + t + s → /æsts/

Example

casts, lasts, blasts

a + s + t + s → /ɑsts/

Example

costs

Short a + s + t + s → /ʌsts/

Example

rusts, dusts, trusts

u + s + t + s → /usts/

Example

boosts, roosts

aɪ + s + t + s → /aɪsts/

Example

heists

Long o + s + t + s → /oʊsts/

Example

posts, roasts, ghosts

ɔɪ + s + t + s → /ɔɪsts/

Example

hoists, foists

Step 3: Consonant + Consonant + Vowel

s + t + i → /sti/

Example

steal, steam, steep

s + t + Short i → /stɪ/

Example

still, stick, stiff

s + t + Short e → /stɛ/

Example

stem, step, stern

s + t + æ → /stæ/

Example

stack, stamp, stand

s + t + a → /stɑ/

Example

stock, stall, stomp

s + t + Short a → /stʌ/

Example

stuck, stuff, stun

s + t + o → /stɔ/

Example

store, stork, storm

s + t + Short u → /stʊ/

Example

stood

s + t + u → /stu/

Example

stupid, student, studio

s + t + eɪ → /steɪ/

Example

stay, stage, state

s + t + aɪ → /staɪ/

Example

style, stifle

s + t + aʊ → /staʊ/

Example

stout

s + t + oʊ → \stoʊ/

Example

stole, stone, stove

Step 4: Consonant + Consonant + Consonant + Vowel

s + t + r + i → /stri/

Example

street, streak, stream

s + t + r + Short i → /strɪ/

Example

strip, strict, string

s + t + r + Short e → /strɛ/

Example

stretch, stress, strength

s + t + r + æ → /stræ/

Example

strap, strand

s + t + r + Short a → /strʌ/

Example

struck, strut, strum

s + t + r + a → /strɑ/

Example

straw, strong

s + t + r + eɪ → /streɪ/

Example

straight, strange, strain

s + t + r + aɪ → /straɪ/

Example

strike, stripe, strive

s + t + r + Long o → /stroʊ/

Example

stroke, strobe, stroll

Sentence Drills

Example

Steve spilled soup on the stairs.

The student spoke loudly at the station.

Spencer stacked boxes beside the stove.

The speakers stood near the sports stadium.

The strong athlete sprinted across the street.

The spy stayed silent during the stressful meeting.

The students practiced spelling on the stage.

Steve spotted a strange spider on the steps.

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Consonant Clusters Beginning with sp- and st-
Sentence Drills

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