Split digraphs · Grade R

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

Other years

• Split digraphs · Grade 1