Blends, Digraphs, and Trigraphs: Word Lists, Examples, and Explanations

Blends, Digraphs, and Trigraphs: Word Lists, Examples, and Explanations

Blends are when two or three letters come together and mix their sounds so that gently flow from one consonant sound to the next. An example of a blend is the word “black” where you quickly need to transition from the “b” to the “l” sound quickly.

In contrast, a digraph is a unique sound represented by two letters that makes a sound completely different from what those letters represent. For example, the “ch” in cheese doesn’t make a “c” or “h” sound at all. “Ch” instead makes its own unique sound that will need to be learned separately.

Finally, trigraphs are similar to digraphs, but instead of being represented by two letters, a trigraph is represented by three letters. A great example of a trigraph is the tch in the word “watch.” 

Children learning English do not need to know these grammatical terms. However, they do need to be able to read these letters and make the correct sounds. This guide will help you master blends, digraphs, and trigraphs through common patterns, word lists, and examples so that you can get one step closer to English fluency.

Learning about Blends

Mistakes in pronouncing blends usually occur for one of two reasons. The first is being unable to switch between different sounds quickly and accurately. This problem should sort itself out as your child becomes more familiar with the sounds of English. The second problem happens when your child drops one of the sounds that make up a blend. Listen carefully to their pronunciation and make gentle corrections as necessary.   

Consonant Blends Word List

To help you out, we have put together a list of common consonant blends that your child should encounter throughout their early English education. Your child probably already knows a lot of these words. If they don’t, then I imagine they will get introduced to them naturally over time.  

Intro Consonant Blends Word List

Bl

Black, Blue, Blow, Blanket, Block, Blonde

Br

Brush, Brown, Broccoli, Brother, Bring, Bright, Bridge, Break, Bread, Brave, Branch, Brain

Cl

Clown, Clap, Clue, Cloud, Climb, Clean, Class, Classroom

Cr

Crazy, Crack, Crab, Cry, Crunch, Crocodile, Crayon, Create, Crash

Dr

Drive, Drip, Drop, Dry, drum, Drink, Dream, Dress, Draw, Dragon

Fl

Fly, Flat, Flush, Flower, Flip, Flavor, Flashcard, Flag, Flamingo

Fr

Fry, Freeze, Frog, Friend, Fresh

Gl

Glad, Glue

Gr

Green, Great, Grape, Grow, Group, Ground, Gross, Grin, Greedy, Grab, Grass, Grasshopper, Grandma, Grandpa, Grandparent, Grandchild, Grade

Pl

Place, Please, Plane, Plural, Plus, Plum, Plenty, Play, Playground, Plan, Planet, Plastic, Plate 

Pr

Price, Pretty, Proper, Proud, Problem, Probably, Pro, Prince, Princess, Price

Tr

Trap, Truck, Trade, Traffic, Trail, Train, Trip, Trash

Tw

Twelve, Twenty, Twice, Twig, Twin, Twinkle, Twirl, Twist

Two* (does not make the w sound)

Wr

Wrong, Wreck, Wrap, Wrestle, Write

Consonant Blends with S Word List

As there are lots of blends with s, we decided to give you a separate list of consonant blends with s. 

Sc

Scare, Score, Scarf, Scary

*Scissors, *Science (the c in these words are silent) 

Sk

Skate, Skateboard, Skill, Skunk, Skeleton, Sky, Skip, Skin, Skirt, Ski

Sl

Slam, Slap, Slug, Slow, Sled, Slide, Slime, Slip, Slippers, Slice, Sleeve, Sleep 

Sm

Small, Smack, Smooth, Smart, Smell, Smoke

Sn

Snore, Snot, Snack, Snail, Snap, Snow, Snowflake, Snowman, Sneak

Sp

Spy, Spoon, Space, Spaghetti, Spot, Sports, Sparkle, Speak, Special, Speed, Spell, Spill, spin, Spinach, Spit, Sponge

St

Stop, Stand, Still, Stairs, Stare, Star, Stick, Step, Sting, Stone, Stomach, Store, Storm, Story, Student 

Sw

Swallow, Swap, Sweat, Sweater, Sweet, Swing, Swipe, Swim, Swimsuit, Switch

Sword* (does not make the w sound)

Common Ending Consonant Blends Word List

There are many ending blend patterns, so this is a list of some of the more common ones with some sample words that would be good for children to know. You do not need for your child to memorize all of them, but a well-rounded English education should have them encounter and learn these words naturally. 

-mp

Lamp, Lump, Jump, Camp, Bump, Dump

-nk

Thank, Bank, Rank, Honk, Think, Drink, Blank

-nt

Ant, Pants, Went, Tent, Hint, Front, Point, Paint, Chant, Giant, Want 

-lk

Milk, Walk, Talk, Chalk, Sidewalk

-lt

Salt, Melt, Adult, Fault, Result

-lf

Golf, Shelf, Wolf, Self, Half, Elf

-nd

And, End, Send, Sound, Round, Found, Wind, Hand, Find, Bind, Kind, Bend 

-ft

Gift, Soft, Left, Lift, Craft

-st

Past, Must, Rust, East, West, Dust, Vest, Fast, Most, Last, Ghost, First, Worst

-sk

Ask, Disk, Risk, Desk, Mask

-rd

Word, Bird, Hard, Third, Board, Weird, Card, Yard, Lizard

-ld

Would, Could, Should, Bold, Cold, Fold, Sold, Hold, Wild, Build, Gold, World

-lp

Help, Kelp

-rk

Mark, Bark, Shark, Park, Pork, Dark

-pt

Adopt, Except, Accept, Attempt, Kept, Subtract

-ct

Act, Fact, Exact, React, Expect, Respect, Select, Object

List of Most Common Digraph Examples

Ch

Cheese, Chin, Check, Cheek, Chair, Chain, Champion, Challenge, Chance, Change, Channel, Chant, Chase, Chat, Cheer, Cheetah, Chew, Chest, Chicken, Child, Chimp, China, Chocolate, Choice, Chop, Choose

Ph

Phone

Sc

Science

Sh

Shoe, Shin, Shape, Share, Show, Shut, Shout, Shoulder, Shot, Should, Shop, Shoot, Shirt, Ship, Shiny, Shell, Shelf, Sheep, She, Shark, Shake, Shadow

Th

Thank, Thumb, thunder, Thursday, Thousand, Though, Those, This, These, That, Third, Thirsty, Think, They, Thick, Thief, Their, Them, Then, There, Their, They’re, The  

Wh

White, Whale, When, Where, What, Why, Whistle, While, Wheel

List of Most Common Trigraph Examples

This is a list of the most common trigraphs found in English. for your convenience, we’ve sorted this list by beginning trigraph examples and mid/ending trigraph examples.

Beginning Trigraph Examples

Spl

Splash, Split, Spread

Sch

School, Schedule

Scr

Screen, Scrapbook, Scratch, Scream

Spr

Spring, Spread, Sprint, Spray

Str

Strength, Strong, Straight, Strawberry, Stretch, Street

Squ

Square, Squid, Squirrel, Squish, Squirt

Shr

Shrink, Shred, Shrimp, Shrug

Thr

Throat, Through, Three

Ending and Mid-Trigraph List

-air

Hair, Fair

-are

Dare, Share, Care, Bare, Rare

-dge

Edge, Fridge, Fudge, Judge

-ear

Tear, Fear, Beard, Ear, Dear

-eer

Deer, Cheer, Career

-igh

Light, High, Bright, Flight, Fight, Lightning, Right, Tonight

-ore

Core, More, Adore, Shore, Score, Store, Chore, Bored

-tch

Catch, Pitch, Patch, Itch

-ure

Sure, Cure, Pure

Is ing a Trigraph?

No, “ing” is not a trigraph. We think of “ing” as saying i + n + g, so it does not count. That being said, I often teach “ing” like a trigraph as these three letters are usually found together. I find that thinking of it as one entity makes it easier for children to learn. 

How to Teach Blends, Digraphs, and Trigraphs

If you are teaching your child phonics, there is no need to teach them what a digraph or trigraph is. What you want is to get them used to recognizing these letter combinations and remembering that they make a unique sound. So it is important that they understand the sounds these digraphs and trigraphs make. However, they do not need to understand the grammar or even know of these grammatical terms. 

As people who have been on this website before know, I am a big proponent of learning through reading and playing. While teaching blends, digraphs, and trigraphs, I would avoid worksheets or rote memorization of important words that fit these patterns.

Final Thoughts

Blends, digraphs, and trigraphs are important pieces of grammar for people who are teaching English to others. Although they are very similar ideas, there are small differences that make these three grammar points unique from each other. Before you start teaching your child these patterns, make sure you understand the basic concepts involved. When you start teaching, practice these patterns one-by-one and review them often. It may seem a long way off now, but practicing these English fundamentals will help make your child a fluent English speaker in no time at all. Good luck, and keep on practicing.

If you are looking for tips and tricks take a look at our post on teaching phonics to your kids and important things to know before starting your child’s phonics education.

If you need any more help, take a look at our Vowels and Consonants Resources with free flashcards, lessons, and articles to help you teach your child phonics.

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