When you’re learning English spelling, one combination you’ll see again and again is the digraph “ck”. Let’s explore what it is, how it sounds, and when to use it correctly.
Consonant Digraph ck
What is the “ck” Digraph?
The digraph “ck” is two consonants—c and k—that together make one sound: /k/.
Even though it looks like two letters, it is pronounced exactly the same as a single “k.”
The sound /k/ is voiceless. To pronounce it, raise the back of your tongue to touch the soft part of the mouth (velum), stop the air for a moment, then release it quickly.
See the illustration and listen to the audio below for practice.
Listen carefully to catch how long the /k/ sound lasts.
When Do We Use “ck”?
In English spelling, “ck” has a special job. It usually appears after a short vowel sound and at the end of the syllable. For example:
| Short Vowel | Word | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| a | back | /bæk/ |
| e | neck | /nɛk/ |
| i | sick | /sɪk/ |
| o | rock | /rɒk/ |
| u | duck | /dʌk/ |
✅The digraph “ck” is never used at the beginning of English words.
Examples of “ck” Words
Here are some common examples:
- back (/bæk/)
- duck (/dʌk/)
- kick (/kɪk/)
- lock (/lɑːk/)
- stick (/stɪk/)
- rock (/rɒk/)
- neck (/nɛk/)
- pack (/pæk/)
- sick (/sɪk/)
- truck (/trʌk/)
✅ Notice how each word has a short vowel sound right before “ck.”
Words with Consonant Digraph ck
Words with “ck” = /k/ in the Middle
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| backyard | /ˈbækˌjɑːrd/ |
| backpack | /ˈbækˌpæk/ |
| pickaxe | /ˈpɪkˌæks/ |
| necktie | /ˈnɛkˌtaɪ/ |
| lockstep | /ˈlɑːkˌstɛp/ |
| quicksand | /ˈkwɪkˌsænd/ |
| kickstart | /ˈkɪkˌstɑːrt/ |
| peacock | /ˈpiːˌkɑːk/ |
| rockslide | /ˈrɑːkˌslaɪd/ |
| sickbay | /ˈsɪkˌbeɪ/ |
| packrat | /ˈpækˌræt/ |
| jackknife | /ˈdʒækˌnaɪf/ |
| pickpocket | /ˈpɪkˌpɑːkɪt/ |
| quicksilver | /ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvər/ |
| blackbird | /ˈblækˌbɜːrd/ |
| blockhead | /ˈblɑːkˌhɛd/ |
| blockhouse | /ˈblɑːkˌhaʊs/ |
| cockatoo | /ˈkɑːkəˌtuː/ |
| cockle | /ˈkɑːkəl/ |
| deckhand | /ˈdɛkˌhænd/ |
| dockyard | /ˈdɑːkˌjɑːrd/ |
| duckling | /ˈdʌkˌlɪŋ/ |
| hackney | /ˈhækni/ |
| knickknack | /ˈnɪkˌnæk/ |
| knucklehead | /ˈnʌkəlˌhɛd/ |
| lackluster | /ˈlækˌlʌstər/ |
| mockery | /ˈmɑːkəri/ |
| mockup | /ˈmɑːkˌʌp/ |
| necklace | /ˈnɛkləs/ |
| reckless | /ˈrɛkləs/ |
| rockfish | /ˈrɑːkˌfɪʃ/ |
| rocketship | /ˈrɑːkɪtˌʃɪp/ |
| sockeye | /ˈsɑːˌkaɪ/ |
| stockade | /stɑːˈkeɪd/ |
| stockpile | /ˈstɑːkˌpaɪl/ |
| stockroom | /ˈstɑːkˌruːm/ |
| stocky | /ˈstɑːki/ |
| tackiness | /ˈtækiˌnəs/ |
| ticklish | /ˈtɪklɪʃ/ |
| trickery | /ˈtrɪkəri/ |
| whacko | /ˈwækoʊ/ |
| whacking | /ˈwækɪŋ/ |
| backpacker | /ˈbækˌpækər/ |
| backless | /ˈbækləs/ |
| backstop | /ˈbækˌstɑːp/ |
| checkbox | /ˈtʃɛkˌbɑːks/ |
| lockbox | /ˈlɑːkˌbɑːks/ |
| pickling | /ˈpɪklɪŋ/ |
| quickening | /ˈkwɪkənɪŋ/ |
| wacky | /ˈwæki/ |
Words with “ck” = /k/ at the End
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| back | /bæk/ |
| pack | /pæk/ |
| sack | /sæk/ |
| track | /træk/ |
| crack | /kræk/ |
| black | /blæk/ |
| snack | /snæk/ |
| stack | /stæk/ |
| attack | /əˈtæk/ |
| click | /klɪk/ |
| stick | /stɪk/ |
| flick | /flɪk/ |
| pick | /pɪk/ |
| quick | /kwɪk/ |
| brick | /brɪk/ |
| chick | /tʃɪk/ |
| thick | /θɪk/ |
| trick | /trɪk/ |
| kick | /kɪk/ |
| luck | /lʌk/ |
| duck | /dʌk/ |
| suck | /sʌk/ |
| check | /tʃɛk/ |
| neck | /nɛk/ |
| deck | /dɛk/ |
| peck | /pɛk/ |
| speck | /spɛk/ |
| block | /blɑːk/ |
| clock | /klɑːk/ |
| shock | /ʃɑːk/ |
| rock | /rɑːk/ |
| dock | /dɑːk/ |
| flock | /flɑːk/ |
| knock | /nɑːk/ |
| mock | /mɑːk/ |
| stock | /stɑːk/ |
| wreck | /rɛk/ |
| tuck | /tʌk/ |
| struck | /strʌk/ |
| yuck | /jʌk/ |
| shack | /ʃæk/ |
| smack | /smæk/ |
| whack | /wæk/ |
| pluck | /plʌk/ |
| stuck | /stʌk/ |
| backtrack | /ˈbækˌtræk/ |
| drawback | /ˈdrɔːˌbæk/ |
| outback | /ˈaʊtˌbæk/ |
| feedback | /ˈfiːdˌbæk/ |