Consonant digraphs are pairs of letters that work together to make a single sound. Even though there are two letters, you only hear one sound when you read the word.
Remember: a digraph makes one sound, not two. Say the word out loud to hear the digraph sound clearly.
When you see a consonant digraph in a word, blend the two letters together to make one sound. This helps you read the whole word smoothly.
Cover the digraph with your finger and say its sound first. Then read the rest of the word and put it all together.
Here are the most common consonant digraphs and the sounds they make:
Some digraphs, like “th,” can make more than one sound. Practice both: /th/ in thin and /th/ in this.
When spelling, listen for the digraph sound and write the two letters together. Do not split the digraph apart.
Always write both letters of the digraph. If you leave one out, the word will not be spelled correctly.
Reading and writing sentences with digraph words helps you understand their meaning and sound.
When you write your own sentences, underline or highlight the digraph words to practice spotting them quickly.