Split digraphs

A split digraph is two vowel letters that make one sound, split by a consonant: ⟦a-e⟧ in ⟦cake⟧, ⟦i-e⟧ in ⟦bike⟧. The ⟦e⟧ at the end makes no sound of its own, but it changes the vowel before it so that the vowel says its name. Some people call it the magic ⟦e⟧: ⟦cap⟧ becomes ⟦cape⟧.

Key facts

  • The five split digraphs: ⟦a-e⟧ (⟦cake⟧), ⟦e-e⟧ (⟦these⟧), ⟦i-e⟧ (⟦bike⟧), ⟦o-e⟧ (⟦home⟧), ⟦u-e⟧ (⟦cube⟧, ⟦flute⟧).
  • Without the ⟦e⟧ the vowel is short; with it, the vowel says its name: ⟦hop⟧ → ⟦hope⟧, ⟦kit⟧ → ⟦kite⟧, ⟦tub⟧ → ⟦tube⟧.
  • Only one consonant sits between the vowel and the ⟦e⟧: ⟦sn-a-k-e⟧, ⟦sm-i-l-e⟧.
  • To read one, spot the ⟦e⟧ at the end, then say the vowel's name: ⟦st-o-n-e⟧ → ⟦stone⟧.
  • Some words end in ⟦e⟧ but don't follow the rule: ⟦come⟧, ⟦some⟧, ⟦have⟧, ⟦give⟧, ⟦love⟧. Learn them as tricky words.

Worked examples

Example 1

Add a magic ⟦e⟧ to ⟦pin⟧.

  1. Write ⟦pin⟧ and add ⟦e⟧ at the end: ⟦pine⟧.
  2. The ⟦e⟧ makes the ⟦i⟧ say its name: ⟦pine⟧, like a pine tree.

Answer: ⟦pine⟧

Example 2

Which word has a split digraph: ⟦ship⟧, ⟦shape⟧ or ⟦shop⟧?

  1. Only ⟦shape⟧ ends in ⟦e⟧ with one consonant before it: ⟦a-e⟧.
  2. The ⟦a⟧ says its name: ⟦shape⟧.

Answer: ⟦shape⟧

Example 3

Read the word: ⟦globe⟧

  1. The word ends in ⟦e⟧ with one consonant before it, so ⟦o-e⟧ is a split digraph.
  2. Say the sounds ⟦g⟧, ⟦l⟧, long ⟦o⟧, ⟦b⟧: ⟦globe⟧.

Answer: It sounds like ⟦g-l-oa-b⟧.