Consonant Diagraph Pronunciation

1. Consonant Digraphs
What is a consonant digraph?
A consonant digraph is a combination of two consonant letters that form a single consonant
speech sound (technically known as a consonant phoneme). Sometimes the combination results
in one letter becoming silent, but many times the pairing produces a unique sound that neither
letter would form on its own.
The Digraphs: CH, DG, DJ, GH, NG, PH, SH, SS, TH, and WH.
CH
The digraph CH forms three distinct phonemes or sound: /ʧ/, /k/, and /ʃ/. There are few reliable
spelling patterns that indicate when CH will form one sound over another.
Producing the sound /ʧ/
The most common sound made by CH is /ʧ/, This is why the symbol for /ʧ/ is a combination of /t/ and
/ʃ/. CH often comes after T when it makes this sound (forming a trigraph), but it can also do so on its
own.
CH word/ IPA CH word/ IPA CH word/ IPA CH word/ IPA
achieve (/əˈʧiv/) charge (/ʧɑrʤ/) ditch (/dɪʧ/) match (/mæʧ/)
arch (/ɑrʧ/) child (/ʧaɪld/) purchase (/ˈpɜrʧəs/) much (/mʌʧ/)
batch (/bæʧ/) church (/ʧɜrʧ/) reach (/riʧ/) which (/wɪʧ/)
beach (/biʧ/) teacher (/ˈtiʧər/)
Producing the sound /k/
Less often, CH produces the same sound as a K or hard C, transcribed in IPA as /k/. This sound
almost always occurs when CH appears at the beginning or in the middle of a word.
CH at Beginning
Position
CH at
Beginning
Position
CH at Beginning
Position
CH at Beginning Position
chemistry(/ˈkɛmɪstri/) Christmas
(/ˈkrɪsməs/
chord(/kɔrd/) chorus(/ˈkɔrəs/)
choir(/ˈkwaɪər/)
CH at Mid Position CH at Mid
Position
CH at Mid Position CH at Mid Position
anchor(/ˈæŋkər/) psyche(/ˈsaɪki/) archive(/ˈɑrˌkaɪv/) psychology(/saɪˈkɑləʤi/)

2. schedule(/ˈskɛʤʊl/)* synchronize(/ˈsɪŋkrəˌnaɪz/) technology(/tɛkˈnɑləʤi/)
Producing the sound /ʃ/
Even less commonly, CH can be pronounced /ʃ/ (like the digraph SH), usually (but not always) when
it appears between two vowels.
CH between two
vowels
CH between two
vowels
CH between two
vowels
CH between two vowels
brochure (/broʊˈʃʊr/) mustache (/ˈmʌˌstæʃ/) chef (/ʃɛf/) parachute (/ˈpɛrəˌʃut/)
machine (/məˈʃin/)
Producing the sound / ʤ /
DG and DJ: The digraphs DG and DJ both create the same consonant sound produced by the letter J,
represented in IPA by the symbol /ʤ/. DG is often followed by the letter E (which is made silent),
while DJ is almost always preceded by the letter A. Neither digraph can appear at the very
beginning* or very end of a word; they must always follow and be followed by at least one other
letter.
DG words DG words DJ words DJ words
abridged(/əˈbrɪʤd/) fledgling(/ˈflɛʤlɪŋ/) adjacent(/əˈʤeɪsənt/) adjunct(/ˈæˌʤʌŋkt/)
badge(/bæʤ/) lodging (/ˈlɑʤɪŋ/) adjective(/ˈæʤɪktɪv/) adjust (/əˈʤʌst/)
judge(/ʤʌʤ/) adjourn(/əˈʤɜrn/)

3. GH
The digraph GH can form two sounds—/g/ and /f/—and can also be silent.
GH Producing the sound /g/
GH only makes the hard /g/ sound when it is at the beginning of a syllable (and usually the beginning of a
word).
GH Word at beg GH Word at beg GH Word at beg GH Word at beg
aghast (/əˈgæst/) ghoul (/gul/) ghetto (/ˈgɛtoʊ/) spaghetti (/spəˈgɛti/)
gherkin (/ˈgɜrkɪn/) ghost (/goʊst/)
Producing the sound /f/
The /f/ phoneme is also not common for this digraph. When GH follows vowels within the same syllable, it
can either be silent or produce the /f/ sound—the spelling alone will not dictate which pronunciation it yields,
making it a particularly difficult digraph to learn.
When GH is pronounced this way, it almost always comes after the vowels OU. GH can also produce the /f/
sound after the vowel digraph AU, but this only occurs in the word laugh (/læf/), as well as any derivative
words like laughter or laughing.
GH Word after vowel GH Word after vowel GH Word after vowel GH Word after vowel
cough (/kɔf/) tough (/tʌf/) enough (/ɪˈnʌf/) trough (/trɔf/)
rough (/rʌf/) slough (/slʌf/)
Silent GH
While the /g/ and /f/ pronunciations of the digraph GH are relatively uncommon, there are many words in
which GH is silent, Like the /f/ pronunciation, silent GH also appears after OU and AU, but it also follows the
vowels AI, EI, and I.
OU + GH AU + GH AI + GH EI + GH I + GH
bought(/bɔt/) caught(/kɔt/) straight(/streɪt/) eight(/eɪt/)
bright(/braɪt/)
dough(/doʊ/) daughter(/dɔtər/)
neighbor(/ˈneɪbər/) high(/haɪ/)
fought(/fɔt/)
fraught(/frɔt/) height(/haɪt/) night(/naɪt/)
ought(/ɔt/) haughty(/ˈhɔti/) sleight(/slaɪt/)
sight(/saɪt/)
through(/θru/) naughty(/ˈnɔti/) weigh(/weɪ/) thigh(/θaɪ/)

4. Producing the sound /ŋ/
NG: The digraph NG almost always produces the same speech sound, represented in IPA by the symbol /ŋ/.
This phoneme is formed by closing the back of the throat while keeping the mouth open and vibrating the
vocal cords (making it a voiced speech sound).
NG can appear in the middle or at the end of a word, and it always comes after a vowel, it never appears at the
beginning of a word.
NG words NG words NG words NG words
bang(/bæŋ/)
fangs (/fæŋz/)
clang(/klæŋ/)
hanged(/hæŋd/)
dinghy (/ˈdɪŋi/) longing (/ˈlɔŋɪŋ/) darling (/ˈdɑrlɪŋ/)
stringy (/ˈstrɪŋi/)
winged (/wɪŋd/)
In some words, N and G appear next to each other but function separately across two separate syllables. This
is not a true digraph (since two sounds are made from the two letters together), but, due to the proximity of the
two letters, the sound /ŋ/ is still made. This results in the pronunciation /ŋg/. For example:
NG words
NG words NG words NG words
anger (/ˈæŋgər/)
finger (/ˈfɪŋgər/) hunger (/ˈhʌŋgər/) language (/ˈlæŋgwəʤ/)
single (/ˈsɪŋgəl/)
tangle (/ˈtæŋgəl/)
Producing the sound /ŋ/ in the suffix ING
NG : The most common occurrence of the digraph NG is in the suffix ING, which is used to form
the gerund and present participle forms of verbs (as in the example longing above).
NG words NG words NG words NG words
acting (/ˈæktɪŋ/)
seeing (/ˈsiɪŋ/)
braving (/ˈbreɪvɪŋ/)
running (/ˈrʌnɪŋ/)
dreaming (/ˈdrimɪŋ/) wearing (/ˈwɛrɪŋ/) feeling (/ˈfilɪŋ/) talking (/ˈtɔkɪŋ/)

5. hearing (/ˈhirɪŋ/)
Producing the sound /ŋk/
In some dialects, NG will produce a /k/ sound after /ŋ/ when the digraph is followed by ST or TH:
This /ŋk/ sound only occurs in the three root words above, but it can also carry over to words derived from
them, such as lengthy or strengthen.
NK words followed by ST NK words followed
by ST
NK words followed
by TH
NK words followed by TH
angst (/ɑŋkst/) length (/lɛŋkθ/) strength(/strɛŋkθ/)
Producing the sounds /ng/ and /nʤ/
NG does not always result in the /ŋ/ phoneme. In some words, in which N and G are split between two
syllables, N carries its standard pronunciation (/n/) while G can create either a hard G (/g/) or (more
commonly) soft G (/ʤ/) sound.
Produces /ng/ Produces /ng/ Produces /nʤ/ Produces /nʤ/
congratulations(/kənˌgræʧəˈleɪʃənz/) engrave(/ɪnˈgreɪv/) Angel(/ˈeɪnʤəl/) lounge(/laʊnʤ/)
congruence(/ˈkɔngruəns/) ingrained(/ɪnˈgreɪnd/) Change(/ʧeɪnʤ/) manger(/ˈmeɪnʤər/)
engaged(/ɛnˈgeɪʤd/) Danger(/ˈdeɪnʤər/) stingy(/ˈstɪnʤi/)
ungrateful(/ʌnˈgeɪtfəl/) dingy(/ˈdɪnʤi/) strange(/streɪnʤ/)
Producing the sound /f/
PH: The digraph PH makes the same speech sound as that of the letter F, transcribed in IPA as /f/. This digraph
can appear anywhere in a word.
PH at Beginning Position PH at Beginning
Position
PH at Beginning
Position
PH at Beginning Position
phantom(/ˈfæntəm/) pheasant(/ˈfɛzənt/) phoenix(/ˈfinɪks/) photograph(/ˈfoʊtəˌgræf/)

6. philosophy(/fəˈlɑsəfi/) physical(/ˈfɪzɪkəl/)
PH at Mid Position PH at Mid Position PH at Mid Position PH at Mid Position
alphabet(/ˈælfəˌbɛt/) orphan(/ˈɔrfən/) lymphoma(/lɪmˈfoʊmə/)
catastrophic(/ˌkætəˈstrɑfɪk/) elephant(/ˈɛləfənt/) emphasize(/ˈɛmfəˌsaɪz/)
PH at End Position PH at End Position PH at End Position PH at End Position
autograph(/ˈɔtəˌgræf/) triumph(/ˈtraɪəmf/) digraph(/ˈdaɪˌgræf/) paragraph(/ˈpærəˌgræf/)
nymph(/nɪmf/) morph(/mɔrf/)
PH: Producing two separate sounds
We must be careful when P and H appear next to each other but function in two separate syllables. This usually
happens in compound words in which a word ending in P is attached to another word beginning in H. In this
case, PH is no longer a digraph and each letter is pronounced individually.
Produces /P-H/ Produces /P-H/ Produces /P-H/ Produces /P-H/
loophole (/ˈlupˌhoʊl/) uphill (/ˈʌpˈhɪl/) uphold (/ʌpˈhoʊld/) haphazard (/hæpˈhæzərd/)
upholstery (/ʌpˈhoʊlstəri/)
Note that the H in upholstery may also be silent: /əˈpoʊlstəri/. H is also silent in the word shepherd (/ˈʃɛpərd/),
which is derived from the Old English word sceaphierde—sceap (“sheep”) + hierde (“herder”).
SH: Producing /ʃ/
The SH digraph always produces the same sound, represented in IPA by the symbol /ʃ/. This sound is formed by
forming a narrow passageway with the sides of the tongue against the top teeth and then forcing air through
partly open lips. It is unvoiced, meaning the vocal cords do not vibrate. Like PH, the SH digraph can appear
anywhere in a word.
Produces /ʃ/, Beginning
Position
Produces /ʃ/,
Beginning Position
Produces /ʃ/,
Beginning Position
Produces /ʃ/, Beginning
Position

7. shadow(/ˈʃæˌdoʊ/) shining(/ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/) sheets(/ʃits/) shoulder(/ˈʃoʊldər/)
shrewd(/ʃrud/) shudder(/ˈʃʌdər/)
Produces /ʃ/, Mid Position Produces /ʃ/, Mid
Position
Produces /ʃ/, Mid
Position
Produces /ʃ/, Mid Position
ashen(/ˈæʃən/) Pushover(/ˈpʊˌʃoʊvər/) cushion(/ˈkʊʃən/) fashion(/ˈfæʃən/)
Dashboard(/ˈdæʃˌbɔrd/) township(/ˈtaʊnʃɪp/)
Produces /ʃ/, End Position Produces /ʃ/, End
Position
Produces /ʃ/, End
Position
Produces /ʃ/, End Position
accomplish(/əˈkɑmplɪʃ/) publish(/ˈpʌblɪʃ/) blush(/blʌʃ/) lavish(/ˈlævɪʃ/)
diminish(/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/) wash(/wɑʃ/)
SH: Producing two separate sounds
When S and H appear next to each other but function in two separate syllables, usually when a prefix ending in S is
attached to a word beginning in H. In this case, SH is no longer a digraph and each letter is pronounced
individually, as in or , This rule also applies when a word beginning with a silent H is preceded by a suffix ending
in S: the S is pronounced normally, while the H remains silent in the second syllable, as in
Produces / S-H / Produces / S-H / Produces / S-H / Produces / S-H /
mishap (/ˈmɪsˌhæp/) dishonest (/dɪˈsɑnəst/)
or dishonor (/dɪˈsɑnər/).
disheartening (/dɪsˈhɑrtənɪŋ/).
SS: Producing the sound /s/
The digraph SS appears in the middle or at the end of a word—it never appears at the beginning—and it can make
three different speech sounds. Most often, the digraph SS simply makes the same sound as a single S: /s/.
Produces /SS/ Produces /SS/ Produces /SS/ Produces /SS/
across (/əˈkrɔs/) boss (/bɔs/) brass (/bræs/) assemble (/əˈsɛmbəl/)

8. blossom (/ˈblɑsəm/) express (/ɪkˈsprɛs/) dissuade (/dɪˈsweɪd/) message (/ˈmɛsɪʤ/)
success (/səkˈsɛs/)
SS: Producing the sound /ʃ/
Sometimes when SS appears in the middle of a word, it creates the same sound as the digraph SH: /ʃ/. This
pronunciation most often occurs when SS is followed by ION; less commonly, it can also occur when the digraph is
followed by URE or UE. For example:
SS + ION SS + URE SS + URE SS + UE
admission(/ædˈmɪʃən/) assure(/əˈʃʊr/) commissure(/(ˈkɒm əˌʃɜr/) tissue(/ˈtɪʃu/)
expression(/ɪkˈsprɛʃən/) fissure(/ˈfɪʃər/) pressure(/ˈprɛʃər/) issue(/ˈɪʃu/)
session(/ˈsɛʃən/)
compassion(/kəmˈpæʃən/)
transmission(/trænzˈmɪʃən/)
SS: Producing the sound /z/
In a few cases, SS produces the same sound as the letter Z, transcribed in IPA as /z/. This can only occur
when SS appears between two vowels.
Produce /z/ Produce /z/ Produce /z/ Produce /z/
brassiere (/brəˈzɪər/) possess (/pəˈzɛs/) dessert (/dɪˈzɜrt/) scissors (/ˈsɪzərz/)
dissolve (/dɪˈzɑlv/) Missouri (/məˈzʊri/)
TH
The digraph TH most often produces one of two similar but distinct sounds: /θ/ and /ð/.The
sound /θ/ is made by lightly pressing the tip of the tongue against the bottom of the top two teeth
as air is forced through the mouth. The vocal cords are not engaged, making this
an unvoiced speech sound. The /ð/ phoneme is formed the exact same way, except the vocal
cords are engaged, making it a voiced speech sound.

9. TH: Producing the sound /θ/
TH is usually pronounced /θ/ when it is followed by a consonant or appears at the very end of a word, while it
is more likely to take the /ð/ pronunciation when it is followed by E or I, especially in the middle or at the end
of a word.
Produce/θ/ Beginning
Position
Produce/θ/ Beginning
Position
Produce/θ/ Beginning
Position
Produce/θ/ Beginning
Position
thanks(/θæŋks/) (/θæŋks/) theater(/ˈθiətər/) through(/θru/)
thing(/θɪŋ/) Thursday(/ˈθɜrzˌdeɪ/) thorough(/ˈθɜroʊ/) thread(/θrɛd/)
Produce/θ/ Mid Position IPA Produce/θ/ Mid
Position
Produce/θ/ Mid
Position
Produce/θ/ Mid
Position
anthem(/ˈænθəm/) cathedral(/kəˈθidrəl/) author(/ˈɔθər/) nothing(/ˈnʌθɪŋ/)
mathematics(/ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/) prosthetic(/prɑˈsθɛtɪk/) healthful(/ˈhɛlθfəl/)
Produce/θ/ End Position Produce/θ/ End
Position
Produce/θ/ End
Position
Produce/θ/ End
Position
bath(/bæθ/) teeth(/tiθ/) depth(/dɛpθ/) warmth(/wɔrmθ/)
length(/lɛŋkθ/) youth(/juθ/) mirth(/mɜrθ/)
TH: Producing the sound /ð/
TH is usually pronounced /θ/ when it is followed by a consonant or appears at the very end of a word, while it
is more likely to take the /ð/ pronunciation when it is followed by E or I, especially in the middle or at the end
of a word.
Produce/ð/ Beginning
Position
Produce/ð/
Beginning Position
Produce/ð/ Beginning
Position
Produce/ð/ Beginning
Position
than(/ðæn/) though(/ðoʊ/) the(/ði/) thus(/ðʌs/)
them(/ðɛm/) thy(/ðaɪ/) this(/ðɪs/)
Produce/ð/Mid Position Produce/ð/Mid
Position
Produce/ð/Mid
Position
Produce/ð/Mid Position
bother(/ˈbɑðər/) together(/təˈgɛðər/) clothing(/ˈkloʊðɪŋ/) whether(/ˈwɛðər/)
either(/ˈaɪðər/ or /ˈiðər/) rhythm(/ˈrɪðəm/)
Produce/ð/End Position
(usually followed by E)
Produce/ð/End
Position (usually
followed by E)
Produce/ð/End
Position (usually
followed by E)
Produce/ð/End Position
(usually followed by E)
breathe(/brið/) teethe(/tið/) loathe(/loʊð/) wreathe(/rið/)

10. smooth(/smuð/) soothe(/suð/)
TH: Producing the sound /t/
In some words, TH produces the sound /t/, making the H silent. This most often occurs in proper nouns. There
is also one common noun in English that features a TH pronounced as /t/: thyme (/taɪm/). It is pronounced the
exact same way as time.
Produce /t/ Produce /t/ Produce /t/ Produce /t/
Thames(/tɛmz/) thyme(/taɪm/). Thailand(/ˈtaɪˌlænd/) Thomas(/ˈtɑməs/)
Theresa(/təˈrisə/)
TH: Producing two separate sounds
As with other digraphs, we must be careful when T and H appear next to each other but function in two
separate syllables. This usually happens in compound words in which a word ending in T is attached to another
word beginning in H. In this case, TH is no longer a digraph and each letter is pronounced individually.
Produce /t and H / Produce /t and H/ Produce /t and H/ Produce /t and H/
anthill(/ˈæntˌhɪl/) hothead(/ˈhɑtˌhɛd/) boathouse(/ˈboʊtˈhaʊs/) lighthouse(/ˈlaɪtˌhaʊs/)
shorthand(/ˈʃɔrtˌhænd/)
WH: Producing the sound /W/
The digraph WH usually represents a /w/ sound, with H becoming silent. For instance:
Produce /W/ Produce /W/ Produce /W/ Produce /W/
what (/wʌt/) which (/wɪʧ/) where (/wɛr/) wheel (/wil/)
when (/wɛn/) whisper(/ˈwɪspər/) why (/waɪ/) white (/waɪt/)
While not common in modern English, however, some dialects do pronounce the H very subtly, though it
comes before the /w/ sound, producing the phoneme /hw/. Therefore, all of the words above might be
pronounced in the following way:
Produce /HW/ Produce /Hw/ Produce /Hw/ Produce /Hw/
what (/hwʌt/) when(/hwɛn/) where (/hwɛr/) why(/hwaɪ/)
which (/hwɪʧ/) wheel(/hwil/) whisper (/ˈhwɪspər/) white (/hwaɪt/)

11. Finally, in some consonant combinations, W is not pronounced at all. This occurs in some words beginning
with WH when it is followed by O, as in:
Produce /H/ Produce /H/ Produce /H/ Produce /H/
who(/hu/) whom(/hum/) whole (/hoʊl/) whose (/huz/)
Consonant digraph
When 2 consonants are joined together and form one new sound, they are a consonant digraph.
They count as one sound and one letter and are never separated. Examples: "ch, sh, th, ph and
wh".
How many letters does a digraph have?
Two
How many sounds does a digraph make?
one
Word S-h-o-p has four letters.
How many sounds in shop?
/sh/ /o/ /p/: There are three sounds because the sh makes the one sound, /sh/
Consonant-Digraph th and ck
Word is /b/ /a/ /th/, bath.
Note: t-h makes one sound, /th/, You do not hear the sound of a t -- /t/ or h -- /h/, th together
makes a new sound—/th/.
When two consonants together make one sound, we call that a digraph. Di means 2, graph means
something written. So, digraph means 2 letters.
The next one is: /p/ /a/ /ck/, pack.
The same is true with the letters ck, they make one sound, /k/.
C-k is also a digraph like t-h.