When a child begins to put letters together, the syllable is the stepping stone that either unlocks or hinders reading. Syllable, This game, from the Brazilian studio Apps Bergman, is an educational game designed specifically for this stage: it introduces simple syllables and then complex ones, always with illustrated words and short exercises. It's a free download on Google Play, and the store's listing itself warns that the app displays ads and has in-app purchases. Below you can see what it offers, what not to expect from it, and how to download it directly from the official store.
Advantages of the Application
Content in Brazilian Portuguese.
The app was created here, using the syllables and words that the child sees at school and at home. It's not a translation of material from another language, which avoids the mismatch between the sound the app teaches and the sound the teacher uses in the classroom.
Simple and complex syllables separated
The activities are divided into two blocks: first the simple syllables (BA, BE, BI) and then the complex ones (BL, BR, CH, LH, NH, TR and so on). You can work on just one block at a time or mix them all together, depending on the child's developmental stage.
Menu for learning the alphabet
Before the syllables, there is a section dedicated solely to letters, which presents the alphabet and separates vowels from consonants. For those who are not yet confidently recognizing letters, this is a natural starting point.
Over 700 illustrated words
The description on Google Play states that there are over 700 illustrated words and more than 100 activities, with three example words for each syllable. This is enough content for a child to return to the app for several months without always repeating the same exercise.
Various types of exercise
It's not just about clicking on the right syllable. The app asks you to drag letters to form the syllable, write the syllable, connect the picture to the initial syllable, group pictures that begin or end with the same sound, complete the word with the missing syllable, count how many syllables the word has, and mark the stressed syllable.
Uppercase, lowercase, and different fonts
The syllables appear in uppercase and lowercase letters, and in more than one type of font. This helps the child recognize the same syllable in their notebook, book, and street sign, and not just in the format they have memorized.
Adjusting the pronunciation of vowels
In the settings, you can choose whether the app says "É" or "Ê" and "Ó" or "Ô", including within syllables (BÉ or BÊ, BÓ or BÔ). A small detail that solves a real problem for those who live in a region where the pronunciation is different from the standard audio.
Suitable for all ages and free download.
On Google Play, the app is classified as Free by ClassInd and costs R$ 0 to install. It has been online since 2016 and has over 5 million downloads, with a rating of 4.3 based on approximately 7,760 reviews.
Before installing
The store listing states "Contains ads" and "In-app purchases," with an item listed at R$ 27.99. In other words, the app is free to download and use, but the child will encounter advertising along the way, and some features are available for purchase. It's worth opening the app beforehand with your phone to see how the ads appear and decide if you prefer to use it with your child.
It's also good to align expectations: Silabando is support, not literacy. It trains syllable recognition, word formation, and writing, but reading is taught by the school and the adult who reads along. Always download using the button above, which leads to the official page on Google Play — APK files from third-party sites have no guarantee of origin and may be modified.
Common questions
Yes. Silabando is from a Brazilian developer, Apps Bergman, and all the content — menus, audio, and words — is in Brazilian Portuguese.
On Google Play, it appears with a ClassInd rating (Free for all ages) and is designed for preschool and early literacy stages. Since the app contains ads, it's ideal for an adult to be present during the first few sessions.
The download is free, R$ 0 on Google Play. The app contains ads and has an in-app purchase, with the item listed at R$ 27.99. Nothing is charged without you confirming the purchase.
Click on the correct syllable, drag letters to form the syllable, write the syllable, connect the picture to the initial syllable, join pictures that begin or end with the same sound, put pictures in alphabetical order, complete the word with the missing syllable, count the syllables and mark the stressed syllable. There is also a mode that randomly selects the activities.
The focus is on the syllable, but the app goes beyond that: after forming the syllables, the child tries to read and write the whole word, with the picture helping. It's a reading and writing exercise that complements schoolwork, not a substitute for it.
Only available through Google Play, on the official Silabando page. Avoid websites that offer APK files or "modified" versions: besides not having automatic updates, these files may have been altered by third parties.
