A trigraph is a group of three letters that come together to make one sound. Even though you see three letters, they work as a single sound when reading a word.
Think of a trigraph as “three letters, one sound.” Do not try to pronounce each letter separately.
When you see a trigraph in a word, the three letters blend together to create one sound. This makes reading smoother and helps you decode new words more easily.
Do not break a trigraph apart when sounding out a word. Treat it as one sound.
Here are some of the most common trigraphs that appear in reading and writing. You will see these often in third grade texts.
Some trigraphs can sound different in different words. Always read the whole word to check the sound.
Seeing trigraphs inside sentences will help you understand how they work in real reading. Practice reading sentences with trigraphs to improve fluency.
Underline or highlight trigraphs in sentences as you read. This helps you notice patterns and build confidence.
Trigraphs are an important part of reading foundations. They help you decode longer and more complex words with accuracy and confidence.
Remember: mastering trigraphs makes you a stronger and more fluent reader.