English Digraphs sh, ch and th and How to Say Them
After learning the sound of each letter, children find words where two letters together make a new sound, like sh in fish, ch in chair and th in three. These are called digraphs. Here is the sound of each, with easy examples for kids.
- Suitable age
- 6 to 8 years
- Suggested time
- 10 minutes a day, one digraph a week
- know that some letters come together to make one sound.
- say sh, ch and th correctly.
- read short words with these sounds, like fish, chair and three.
What Are Digraphs?
The word fish has four letters but only three sounds: “f – i – sh”. The letters s and h make one sound together, “sh”, which is neither the s sound nor the h sound.
You can explain it to your child in one simple sentence: “These two letters come together and say one sound.”
Digraphs and Their Sounds
sh: the “sh” sound
Said like the sound we make to ask for quiet: “shhhh”.
ch: the “ch” sound
t and sh said quickly together, like a train: “choo choo”.
th: the “th” sound
Put the tip of the tongue between the teeth. In some words it’s soft and breathy, as in three and thumb; in others it’s voiced, as in this, the and mother.
ph: the “f” sound
It sounds like an ordinary f, and appears in only a few words.
wh: the “w” sound
It sounds like w in most words, many of them question words. In a few words, like who, it sounds like h.
ck: the “k” sound
A single k sound, at the end of a word after a short vowel.
ng: the “ng” sound
An n sound from the nose and the back of the mouth, without a clear g after it.
In What Order Should They Be Taught?
| Stage | Letters | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First | sh, ch, th | The most common in children’s words. |
| Second | ck, ng | They come at the end of short words, like duck and ring. |
| Third | wh, ph | They come in question words, like what and where, and in a few other words. |
An Activity: Hold Up the Card
- Write sh on a card and give it to your child.
- Say words one after another, some with the “sh” sound and some without.
- Your child holds up the card on hearing “sh”, as in fish and shoe, but not with a word like sun.
- Repeat the activity with ch and th in the following weeks.
If your child doesn’t know the single letter sounds yet, start there: English Letter Sounds and What Is Phonics?
Just sh today: put a finger to your lips and say “sh”, then look for fish and ship in pictures.
One card per digraph (sh, ch, th) in a different color, so children see it as a single sound.
Summary
- A digraph is two letters side by side that make one new sound.
- Start with sh, ch and th, the most common in children’s words.
- Children learn them once they know the single letter sounds and can read short words.
- th is soft in some words and voiced in others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are digraphs in English?
Two letters side by side that make one new sound, like sh in fish, ch in chair and th in three.
When do children learn them?
Once they know the single letter sounds and can read short words like cat and sun, usually at six or seven.
How do I know whether th is soft or voiced?
We learn it from common words: the, this, that and mother are voiced; three, thumb and thank are soft. At first, it’s enough for your child to know that the tongue goes between the teeth.
