What is referred to as the part of a syllable that comes before the vowel?

The term that describes the part of a syllable coming before the vowel is known as the onset. In phonetics and phonology, an onset is the initial consonant or consonant cluster of a syllable, setting the stage for the vowel that follows. Understanding this concept is crucial for developing phonemic awareness, which is a fundamental element of reading instruction.

For instance, in the word "strike," the onset is "str," while "ike" represents the rime, which consists of the vowel and any following consonants. Recognizing the onset helps students with decoding and spelling, as they can build words by attaching different rimes to common onsets. This foundation aids in their overall literacy development.