Phonological awareness refers to a person's ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds within words. It is an important foundation for learning to read, as it allows individuals to understand that spoken language can be broken down into smaller units called phonemes, which are the building blocks of words. Phonological awareness involves understanding that letters represent sounds (phonics), recognizing familiar words by their beginning sound or ending sound, and being able to blend sounds together to read a word. It is an essential skill for young children learning to read, as it helps them understand how written language relates to spoken language.