What is the term for the awareness that words are made up of individual sounds?

The term that refers to the awareness that words are made up of individual sounds is phonemic awareness. This concept is critical in the development of reading skills, as it involves the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the phonemes, or the smallest units of sound, in spoken words. Phonemic awareness is foundational for learning to read and write, as it helps learners understand how sounds correspond to letters and how these sounds can be blended together to form words.

This understanding of sound units is distinct from phonics, which involves the relationship between sounds and their spellings. Meanwhile, syntax focuses on the structure of sentences and how words combine to create meaning, while semantics pertains to the meaning of words and phrases within context. Therefore, phonemic awareness is the most precise term for recognizing and working with the individual sounds that make up words.