english digraphs list

less than a minute read 02-09-2024

Digraphs are pairs of letters that together produce a single sound. In English, understanding digraphs is crucial for mastering pronunciation and spelling. This article provides a comprehensive list of common English digraphs, their sounds, and examples of words that contain them.

What Are Digraphs?

A digraph consists of two letters that combine to create one sound. For instance, the letters "sh" in the word "ship" produce the sound /ʃ/, which is distinct from the sounds of the individual letters "s" and "h."

Common English Digraphs

Here’s a list of some of the most common English digraphs along with their corresponding sounds:

Consonant Digraphs

Digraph	Sound	Example Words
ch	/tʃ/	chip, chair, chicken
sh	/ʃ/	ship, shoe, fish
th	/θ/ (voiceless)	think, bath
	/ð/ (voiced)	that, this, they
wh	/w/	what, when, where
ph	/f/	phone, graph, elephant
ng	/ŋ/	sing, ring, long

Vowel Digraphs

Digraph	Sound	Example Words
ai	/eɪ/	train, rain, pain
ay	/eɪ/	play, day, say
ea	/iː/	sea, tea, team
	/ɛ/	bread, head, spread
ee	/iː/	tree, bee, free
ie	/aɪ/	pie, tie, lie
oa	/oʊ/	boat, coat, road
oe	/oʊ/	toe, foe, doe
ou	/aʊ/	cloud, loud, found
	/oʊ/	though, dough
ui	/uː/	fruit, juice, suit
ew	/juː/	new, few, grew
	/uː/	chew, view

Importance of Digraphs

Understanding digraphs is important for several reasons:

Reading Skills: Recognizing digraphs helps in decoding words, making it easier for learners to read fluently.
Spelling: Knowing how digraphs work aids in spelling words correctly.
Pronunciation: Digraphs contribute to proper pronunciation, which is essential for effective communication.

Conclusion

Mastering English digraphs can significantly enhance your reading, writing, and speaking abilities. This list serves as a helpful reference for identifying and understanding the different digraphs in English. Practice using them in words and sentences to become more familiar with their sounds and applications. Happy learning!