Learn digraphs and (consonants digraphs) by definitions, words creation, list, comparison, and examples. This topic is purely based on concepts for permanent and better understanding.
Digraph Concept
As the topic name suggests;
Di → two
Graphs → letters
So,
Digraphs→ two letters
Definition of Digraphs
When two consonants or non-vowels join to create a new mono sound, called digraphs. In this concept, the two raw letter sounds have a different sound than the resultant one. In other words, two letters with different sounds form a mono sound that is different from the newly created one.
Consonants
The English alphabets other than five vowels a,e,i,o,u are called consonants. There are twenty-one consonants.
Example of Digraph
S + h = sh
Both the consonants ‘s’ and ‘h’ have different sounds before combining to form ‘sh’ that have different resultant sounds. So, ‘sh’ is a digraph. We can also say that two sounds merge to form a single or mono sound.
Digraphs List
Here is the list of digraphs.
C + k =Ck
W + h=Wh
C + h=Ch
K + n=Kn
P + h=Ph
T + h=Th
W + r=Wr
S + S=Ss
T + ch=Tch
Words from Digraphs
Initial Digraphs
Ch= chicken, choice, cheese, chair, chain, child, chess, chuck, check cheque.
Wh=white, when, where, what, while, which, why.
Kn= knight, knock, knit, knife, know, knot, knowledge, knicks, Knee.
Wr= wreck, wrench, wreath, wrist, wrong, wring, wrinkle, wrong.
Ending Digraphs
Ch= which, punch, rich, such, pouch, much, pinch, lunch, crunch.
Ck= track, luck, suck, flick, tick, quick, tack, pluck, sick, hick, hack, crack.
Sh= trash, bush, wish, crush, dish, flash, rush, push, brush.
Ss= mass, class, chess, dress, mess, miss, swiss, bliss,
Vowel Digraphs or Diphthongs Concept
Like digraphs or consonants digraphs, vowel digraphs or diphthongs also have something same concept structure. Furthermore, two vowel sounds get together or join to form a sound, called vowel digraph or diphthongs. Keep in your mind the vowels are a,e, i,o,u.
Examples
a+i= ai
e+a=ea
e+e=ee
i+e=ie
o+a=oa
o+u=ou
Vowel Words
ai= straight, wait, chain, jail, paid, paint, train, snail, brain, rain, mail, sail
ea= beach, cream, deal, flea, easy, leak, preach, teach, plead, peak.
ee= tree, sweet, seed, speed, need, free, sheet, heed, green, queen, peel, feel, heel, street.
ie=die, pie, pliers, lie, diet, lied, tied, fiery, tried, vie, view.
oa= coast, roast, boat, coat, float, moat, poach, load, roam, soak.
ou= soup, group, wound, recoup, troupe.
Also Learn: Diphthongs: Vowel Diphthongs Definition Examples
Types of Vowel Digraphs Sounds
Types of Diphthongs Sounds
- Long Vowel Digraphs Sounds
- Short Vowel Digraphs Sounds
Long Vowel Digraph Sounds
It refers to the paying long time in pronouncing the vowel digraph.
Examples
straight, beach, speed, wound.
All the above-mentioned categories (ai, ee, ou ) represent long vowel sounds.
Short Vowel Digraph Sounds
It refers to the paying comparatively short time than long vowel sounds in pronouncing the vowel digraph.
Examples
pie, tree.
All the above-mentioned categories (ie, ee ) represent short vowel sounds.
Difference Between Consonants Digraphs and Vowel Digraphs
As we know that both the digraphs types are formed by combining two letters to form a monosound. So, the main and important difference between them is that two consonants are combined to create consonats digraphs whereas two vowels make vowel digraphs or diphthongs.