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Ever heard the soft and quiet sound “sh” makes in words like shoe, shower, or shhh? That’s the magic of the consonant digraph sh—two letters, one smooth sound, just like a gentle wave washing ashore. Let’s explore how this sound adds calm, comfort, and even some excitement to English!
Consonant Digraph sh
What Is the Consonant Digraph sh?
A consonant digraph is when two consonants come together to make one sound.
In this case, the letters s and h combine to create the /ʃ/ sound—like in ship or sheep.
Common “sh” Words
| Beginning | Middle | Ending |
|---|---|---|
| ship | sunshine | brush |
| show | dishes | wish |
| short | fishing | push |
All these words contain the gentle /ʃ/ sound. Try reading them aloud!
Listen carefully to catch how long the /ʃ/ sound lasts in “shop.”
Quick Tip:
The “sh” digraph is always voiceless—so no vibration in your throat when you say it! Practice in front of a mirror and feel the airflow with your hand.
Words with Consonant Digraph “sh”
- “sh” almost always makes the /ʃ/ sound.
- It’s common at the beginning, middle, and end of words.
Words with “sh” = /ʃ/ at the Beginning
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| she | /ʃiː/ |
| ship | /ʃɪp/ |
| shop | /ʃɒp/ |
| shut | /ʃʌt/ |
| shell | /ʃɛl/ |
| shape | /ʃeɪp/ |
| shoe | /ʃuː/ |
| short | /ʃɔːrt/ |
| shine | /ʃaɪn/ |
| shout | /ʃaʊt/ |
| sharp | /ʃɑːrp/ |
| show | /ʃoʊ/ |
| shake | /ʃeɪk/ |
| share | /ʃɛər/ |
| shy | /ʃaɪ/ |
| shock | /ʃɒk/ |
| shadow | /ˈʃædoʊ/ |
| shelter | /ˈʃɛltər/ |
| shoulder | /ˈʃoʊldər/ |
| shower | /ˈʃaʊər/ |
| shrimp | /ʃrɪmp/ |
| shrink | /ʃrɪŋk/ |
| shred | /ʃrɛd/ |
| shrub | /ʃrʌb/ |
| shuttle | /ˈʃʌtəl/ |
| shimmer | /ˈʃɪmər/ |
| shiver | /ˈʃɪvər/ |
| shield | /ʃiːld/ |
| shift | /ʃɪft/ |
| shepherd | /ˈʃɛpərd/ |
| shoelace | /ˈʃuːleɪs/ |
| shoemaker | /ˈʃuːˌmeɪkər/ |
| shortcut | /ˈʃɔːrtkʌt/ |
| shoreline | /ˈʃɔːrlaɪn/ |
| showcase | /ˈʃoʊkeɪs/ |
| shampoo | /ʃæmˈpuː/ |
| shapeless | /ˈʃeɪpləs/ |
| shoebox | /ˈʃuːbɒks/ |
| shakiness | /ˈʃeɪkinəs/ |
Words with “sh” = /ʃ/ in the Middle
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| mushroom | /ˈmʌʃruːm/ |
| dishwasher | /ˈdɪʃˌwɒʃər/ |
| seashore | /ˈsiːʃɔːr/ |
| wishbone | /ˈwɪʃboʊn/ |
| embellishment | /ɛmˈbɛlɪʃmənt/ |
| astonishment | /əˈstɒnɪʃmənt/ |
| lavishly | /ˈlævɪʃli/ |
| outshine | /ˌaʊtˈʃaɪn/ |
| marshland | /ˈmɑːʃlænd/ |
| fishnet | /ˈfɪʃnet/ |
| fleshless | /ˈflɛʃləs/ |
| bashful | /ˈbæʃfəl/ |
| crashland | /ˈkræʃlænd/ |
| fishbowl | /ˈfɪʃboʊl/ |
| harshness | /ˈhɑːʃnəs/ |
| pushback | /ˈpʊʃbæk/ |
| mushy | /ˈmʌʃi/ |
| rashness | /ˈræʃnəs/ |
Words with “sh” = /ʃ/ at the End
| Word | IPA |
|---|---|
| wish | /wɪʃ/ |
| dish | /dɪʃ/ |
| fish | /fɪʃ/ |
| wash | /wɒʃ/ (UK), /wɑːʃ/ (US) |
| brush | /brʌʃ/ |
| blush | /blʌʃ/ |
| crash | /kræʃ/ |
| flash | /flæʃ/ |
| splash | /splæʃ/ |
| trash | /træʃ/ |
| smash | /smæʃ/ |
| rash | /ræʃ/ |
| lash | /læʃ/ |
| dash | /dæʃ/ |
| gash | /ɡæʃ/ |
| hash | /hæʃ/ |
| slash | /slæʃ/ |
| thrash | /θræʃ/ |
| squish | /skwɪʃ/ |
| swish | /swɪʃ/ |
| relash | /ˌriːˈlæʃ/ |
| overbrush | /ˌoʊvərˈbrʌʃ/ |
| outwash | /ˈaʊtwɒʃ/ |
| rewash | /ˌriːˈwɒʃ/ |
| prewash | /ˈpriːwɒʃ/ |
| starfish | /ˈstɑːrˌfɪʃ/ |
| goldfish | /ˈɡoʊldˌfɪʃ/ |
| angelfish | /ˈeɪndʒəlˌfɪʃ/ |
| shellfish | /ˈʃɛlˌfɪʃ/ |
| cuttlefish | /ˈkʌtəlˌfɪʃ/ |
| blowfish | /ˈbloʊˌfɪʃ/ |
| dogfish | /ˈdɒɡˌfɪʃ/ |
| catfish | /ˈkætfɪʃ/ |
| jellyfish | /ˈʤɛlifɪʃ/ |
| flatfish | /ˈflætfɪʃ/ |
| selfish | /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/ |
| foolish | /ˈfuːlɪʃ/ |
| childish | /ˈʧaɪldɪʃ/ |
| ticklish | /ˈtɪklɪʃ/ |
| snobbish | /ˈsnɒbɪʃ/ |