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Have you ever noticed how the consonant digraph ch can create so many fun and familiar words like chocolate, chair, and chicken? This special pair of letters works together to make a single sound, and sometimes even surprises us with different pronunciations! Let’s explore the exciting world of the consonant digraph ch and how it works in English.
Consonant Digraph ch
What Is a Consonant Digraph?
A digraph is when two letters come together to make one sound. In this case, “ch” usually makes the /ʧ/ sound (like in chair) — a quick blend of /t/ and /ʃ/.
Common “ch” = /ʧ/ Words
- chair
- cheese
- child
- chocolate
- cherry
- chase
- chop
- cheek
- chicken
- change
3 Sounds of “ch”
| Sound | Example | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| /ʧ/ (the most common) | chair, cheese, chocolate | /ʧɛər/, /ʧiːz/, /ˈʧɒklət/ |
| /k/ (Greek origin words) | school, character, chaos | /skuːl/, /ˈkærəktər/, /ˈkeɪɒs/ |
| /ʃ/ (mainly from French) | chef, machine | /ʃɛf/, /məˈʃiːn/ |
/ʧ/
/k/
/ʃ/
Words with Consonant Digraph ch
Words with “ch” = /ʧ/ at the Beginning
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| chair | /ʧɛr/ |
| child | /ʧaɪld/ |
| cheese | /ʧiːz/ |
| chalk | /ʧɔːk/ |
| chase | /ʧeɪs/ |
| cheek | /ʧiːk/ |
| cheap | /ʧiːp/ |
| chip | /ʧɪp/ |
| chop | /ʧɒp/ |
| chin | /ʧɪn/ |
| chill | /ʧɪl/ |
| cherry | /ˈʧɛri/ |
| chain | /ʧeɪn/ |
| check | /ʧɛk/ |
| chapter | /ˈʧæptər/ |
| cheerful | /ˈʧɪrfl/ |
| charger | /ˈʧɑːrdʒər/ |
| chubby | /ˈʧʌbi/ |
| chatter | /ˈʧætər/ |
| chicken | /ˈʧɪkən/ |
| chime | /ʧaɪm/ |
| charm | /ʧɑːrm/ |
| chisel | /ˈʧɪzl/ |
| chatterbox | /ˈʧætərˌbɒks/ |
| chimney | /ˈʧɪmni/ |
| checklist | /ˈʧɛklɪst/ |
| chopsticks | /ˈʧɒpstɪks/ |
| checkbox | /ˈʧɛkbɒks/ |
| chairman | /ˈʧɛrmən/ |
| championship | /ˈʧæmpiənʃɪp/ |
| challenge | /ˈʧælɪndʒ/ |
| champion | /ˈʧæmpiən/ |
| chant | /ʧænt/ |
| chapel | /ˈʧæpəl/ |
| charge | /ʧɑːrdʒ/ |
| chasey | /ˈʧeɪsi/ |
| chalkboard | /ˈʧɔːkbɔːrd/ |
| changeless | /ˈʧeɪndʒləs/ |
| childish | /ˈʧaɪldɪʃ/ |
| chosen | /ˈʧoʊzən/ |
| chewy | /ˈʧuːi/ |
Words with “ch” = /ʧ/ in the Middle
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| teacher | /ˈtiːʧər/ |
| feature | /ˈfiːʧər/ |
| creature | /ˈkriːʧər/ |
| preacher | /ˈpriːʧər/ |
| pitcher | /ˈpɪʧər/ |
| catcher | /ˈkæʧər/ |
| butcher | /ˈbʊʧər/ |
| watcher | /ˈwɑːʧər/ |
| picture | /ˈpɪʧər/ |
| mixture | /ˈmɪksʧər/ |
| lecture | /ˈlɛkʧər/ |
| fracture | /ˈfrækʧər/ |
| nature | /ˈneɪʧər/ |
| adventure | /ədˈvɛnʧər/ |
| capture | /ˈkæpʧər/ |
| future | /ˈfjuːʧər/ |
| culture | /ˈkʌlʧər/ |
| structure | /ˈstrʌkʧər/ |
| nurture | /ˈnɜːʧər/ |
| furniture | /ˈfɜːrnɪʧər/ |
Words with “ch” = /ʧ/ at the End
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| reach | /riːʧ/ |
| teach | /tiːʧ/ |
| speech | /spiːʧ/ |
| peach | /piːʧ/ |
| match | /mæʧ/ |
| catch | /kæʧ/ |
| batch | /bæʧ/ |
| watch | /wɑːʧ/ |
| stretch | /strɛʧ/ |
| scratch | /skræʧ/ |
| patch | /pæʧ/ |
| snatch | /snæʧ/ |
| hatch | /hæʧ/ |
| dispatch | /dɪˈspæʧ/ |
| attach | /əˈtæʧ/ |
| approach | /əˈproʊʧ/ |
| breach | /briːʧ/ |
| enrich | /ɪnˈrɪʧ/ |
| torch | /tɔːrʧ/ |
| porch | /pɔːrʧ/ |
Words with “ch” = /k/
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| chemistry | /ˈkɛmɪstri/ |
| character | /ˈkærəktər/ |
| chaos | /ˈkeɪɒs/ |
| chorus | /ˈkɔːrəs/ |
| school | /skuːl/ |
| scheme | /skiːm/ |
| stomach | /ˈstʌmək/ |
| echo | /ˈɛkoʊ/ |
| architect | /ˈɑːrkɪtɛkt/ |
| orchestra | /ˈɔːrkəstrə/ |
| anchor | /ˈæŋkər/ |
| mechanic | /məˈkænɪk/ |
| ache | /eɪk/ |
| technical | /ˈtɛknɪkəl/ |
| technology | /tɛkˈnɒlədʒi/ |
| psychology | /saɪˈkɒlədʒi/ |
| archaeology | /ˌɑːrkiˈɒlədʒi/ |
| monarch | /ˈmɒnərk/ |
| anarchy | /ˈænərki/ |
| epoch | /ˈiːpɒk/ |
Words with “ch” = /ʃ/
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| chef | /ʃɛf/ |
| machine | /məˈʃiːn/ |
| chute | /ʃuːt/ |
| brochure | /broʊˈʃʊr/ |
| champagne | /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ |
| charade | /ʃəˈreɪd/ |
| chalet | /ˈʃæleɪ/ |
| chic | /ʃiːk/ |
| mustache | /ˈmʌstæʃ/ (US) |
| cache | /kæʃ/ |
| parachute | /ˈpærəʃuːt/ |
| cliché | /kliːˈʃeɪ/ |
| crochet | /ˈkroʊʃeɪ/ |
| quiche | /kiːʃ/ |
| pistachio | /pɪˈstɑːʃioʊ/ |
| gauche | /ɡoʊʃ/ |
| ricochet | /ˈrɪkəʃeɪ/ |
| sachet | /ˈsæʃeɪ/ |
| douche | /duːʃ/ |