Digraphs and trigraphs · Grade 1
Sometimes two letters make one sound. This is a digraph: sh in ship, ee in tree. Three letters that make one sound are a trigraph: igh in night. When you read, look for these letters together, and say one sound for them.
Key facts
- Consonant digraphs: sh (shop), ch (chip), th (thin), ng (ring), ck (duck).
- Vowel digraphs: ai (rain), ee (feet), oa (boat), oo (moon and book), ar (car), or (fork), ur (turn), ow (cow), oi (coin), er (letter).
- Trigraphs: igh (night), ear (hear), air (hair), ure (sure).
- Count sounds, not letters: ship has four letters but three sounds: sh-i-p.
- A digraph can change a word completely: ship, chip and sip are different words.
Worked examples
Example 1
Which letters make one sound in fish?
Answer: sh
Example 2
How many sounds are in night?
Answer: 3
Example 3
Spell the word you hear: boat.
Answer: boat