list of digraphs in english

less than a minute read 03-09-2024

Digraphs are pairs of letters that together produce a single sound (phoneme). They are an essential part of English spelling and pronunciation. Understanding digraphs can significantly improve reading and writing skills. Below, we explore some common digraphs in the English language.

What is a Digraph?

A digraph is a combination of two letters that represent one sound. There are two main types of digraphs:

Consonant Digraphs: Two consonants that combine to create one sound.
Vowel Digraphs: Two vowels that combine to produce one sound.

Common Consonant Digraphs

Here are some frequently used consonant digraphs:

Digraph	Example Word
ch	chair
sh	ship
th	think
ph	phone
wh	whale
ng	sing
ck	duck

Consonant Digraphs Explained

ch: As in chocolate, where "ch" produces the /tʃ/ sound.
sh: As in shoes, where "sh" gives the /ʃ/ sound.
th: Can be voiced as in the (/ð/) or voiceless as in think (/θ/).
ph: Often found in words like elephant, producing the /f/ sound.
wh: In words like whistle, "wh" produces the /w/ sound.
ng: Appears at the end of words like ring, producing the /ŋ/ sound.
ck: Found in words like clock, where "ck" produces the /k/ sound.

Common Vowel Digraphs

Here are some commonly used vowel digraphs:

Digraph	Example Word
ai	rain
ay	play
ea	bread
ee	tree
ie	pie
oa	boat
ou	cloud
ue	blue

Vowel Digraphs Explained

ai: As in train, producing the long /eɪ/ sound.
ay: In words like day, also producing the long /eɪ/ sound.
ea: Can produce different sounds, as in bread (/ɛ/) or bead (/iː/).
ee: As in see, giving the long /iː/ sound.
ie: Found in piece, producing the long /iː/ sound.
oa: As in boat, producing the long /oʊ/ sound.
ou: In words like cloud, producing the /aʊ/ sound.
ue: As in blue, giving the long /uː/ sound.

Conclusion

Understanding digraphs is crucial for mastering English pronunciation and spelling. By familiarizing yourself with both consonant and vowel digraphs, you can enhance your reading skills and become a more confident writer. Practice using these digraphs in sentences, and you will notice improvements in your language proficiency!