When it comes to expressing the act of audibly testing or pronouncing words, there are several synonyms to use for "sounds out". First, you can use the word "enunciate" to convey the clear pronunciation of words. Another synonym is "articulate", which means to express oneself clearly and effectively. "Phonate" is a related concept, involving the production of speech sounds through the action of the vocal cords. The phrase "utter aloud" may also express the idea of sounding out a word, as well as "pronounce" and "vocalize". Ultimately, there are multiple ways to convey the act of audibly testing or pronouncing words beyond just "sounds out".