Is the 'c' in 'city' soft or hard?

Study for the Phonics and Phonological Awareness Test. Access interactive flashcards and multiple-choice quizzes, each with hints and explanations. Prepare for your assessment!

Multiple Choice

Is the 'c' in 'city' soft or hard?

Explanation:
C has two common sounds: a soft /s/ sound before i, e, or y, and a hard /k/ sound before a, o, or u. In the word city, the letter c comes before i, so it makes the soft /s/ sound rather than the /k/ sound. That’s why city starts with an /s/ sound, like “sis-ty”, and the correct description is soft. The hard sound would occur if c were before a, o, or u, as in cat or coat.

C has two common sounds: a soft /s/ sound before i, e, or y, and a hard /k/ sound before a, o, or u. In the word city, the letter c comes before i, so it makes the soft /s/ sound rather than the /k/ sound. That’s why city starts with an /s/ sound, like “sis-ty”, and the correct description is soft. The hard sound would occur if c were before a, o, or u, as in cat or coat.

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