What is an onset?

An onset refers to the initial consonant or consonant cluster of a syllable. In linguistic terms, the onset is the group of sounds that appear at the beginning, preceding the vowel of the syllable. For example, in the word "stray," the 'str' is the onset, while 'ay' is the nucleus (vowel sound that follows).

Understanding this concept is fundamental in phonology and can help in various aspects of language development, including reading instruction and phonemic awareness activities. It provides a foundation for breaking down words into their constituent parts and understanding how sounds come together to form syllables, which is essential for language acquisition and literacy development.