A consonant digraph is two consonants that work together to make a single sound. The sound is different from the sound each letter makes on its own.
Remember: two letters together can make just one sound. Don’t try to pronounce them separately.
These digraphs are very common. They often appear at the beginning or end of words. Each makes its own special sound.
The digraph th can make two sounds: a soft sound in thin and a voiced sound in this. Listen carefully when reading.
These digraphs are less common but important. The letters work together to create sounds not linked to their single letters.
The digraph ph makes the same sound as f. The digraph wh usually makes the same sound as w, but with more breath.
When reading, look for pairs of letters that stay together. Spotting digraphs helps you sound out words more quickly and correctly.
Circle or highlight digraphs when practicing new words. This will help train your eyes to see them quickly.
Breaking words into parts can make reading easier. When you find a digraph, treat it as one sound instead of two.
Cover the rest of the word and sound out just the digraph first. Then blend the digraph with the rest of the word.