Have you ever wondered why words like what, when, and where all start with the same two letters—“wh”? This combination isn’t random—it’s called a consonant digraph, and it has a unique sound and role in English spelling. This page will explore how the “wh” digraph is used, how it’s pronounced, and why mastering it is essential for clear communication.
Consonant Digraph wh
What is the Consonant Digraph wh?
A digraph is two letters that come together to make one sound.
When you see “wh,” it usually makes the /w/ sound or sometimes the /h/ sound, depending on the word and accent.
Common “wh” Pronunciations
1. /w/ sound (most common in modern English):
- what /wɒt/
- when /wen/
- where /weər/
- why /waɪ/
- white /waɪt/
See in the picture how /w/ appears when spoken naturally.
Play the example and feel how the /w/ sound starts in “wet.”
2. /hw/ or breathy “wh” (older or more careful speech, some dialects):
Some speakers pronounce “wh” with extra air, like h + w (like blowing out a candle):
- which /ʍɪʧ/
- whale /ʍeɪl/
3. Rarely, /h/ sound:
- who /huː/
- whole /hoʊl/
See in the picture how /h/ appears when spoken naturally.
Tips for Pronouncing “wh”
✅ Modern Standard English: Mostly just pronounce like “w.”
✅ Careful or older pronunciation: Make a breathy “hw” sound.
✅ Practice: Put your hand in front of your mouth—feel the puff of air in words like which or whale.
Words with Consonant Digraph “wh”
Words with Beginning Consonant Digraph “wh”
| Word | IPA |
| what | /wɒt/ or /wʌt/ |
| when | /wen/ |
| where | /weər/ |
| why | /waɪ/ |
| which | /wɪʧ/ |
| who | /huː/ |
| whose | /huːz/ |
| whom | /huːm/ |
| while | /waɪl/ |
| white | /waɪt/ |
| whole | /hoʊl/ |
| whale | /weɪl/ |
| whisk | /wɪsk/ |
| whip | /wɪp/ |
| whiz | /wɪz/ |
| whine | /waɪn/ |
| whisper | /ˈwɪspər/ |
| wharf | /wɔːrf/ |
| wheat | /wiːt/ |
| whack | /wæk/ |
| wheeze | /wiːz/ |
| wheel | /wiːl/ |
| whet | /wet/ |
| whey | /weɪ/ |
| whiff | /wɪf/ |
| whirr | /wɜːr/ |
| whirl | /wɜːrl/ |
| whim | /wɪm/ |
| whopper | /ˈwɒpər/ |
| whittle | /ˈwɪtl/ |
| whoop | /wuːp/ |
| whorl | /wɜːrl/ |
| whiplash | /ˈwɪplæʃ/ |
| wherefore | /ˈweərfɔːr/ |
| whomever | /huːˈmevər/ |
| wherever | /weərˈevər/ |
| whereby | /weərˈbaɪ/ |
| wherein | /weərˈɪn/ |
| wherewith | /ˈweəwɪð/ |
| whencesoever | /ˌwensəʊˈevər/ |
| whee | /wiː/ |
| whilom | /ˈwaɪləm/ |
| whisht | /wɪʃt/ |
| whilom | /ˈwaɪləm/ |
| whydunit | /ˈwaɪˌdʌnɪt/ |
| wheedle | /ˈwiːdl/ |
| whencesoever | /ˌwensəʊˈevər/ |
| whences | /wens/ |
| whensoever | /ˌwenzəʊˈevər/ |
| whydunit | /ˈwaɪˌdʌnɪt/ |
| whirligig | /ˈwɜːrlɪɡɪɡ/ |
| whencesoever | /ˌwensəʊˈevər/ |
| whences | /wens/ |
| whensoever | /ˌwenzəʊˈevər/ |
| whydunit | /ˈwaɪˌdʌnɪt/ |
| whirligig | /ˈwɜːrlɪɡɪɡ/ |
Words with Middle Consonant Digraph “wh”
| Word | IPA |
| somewhat | /ˈsʌm.wɒt/ |
| somewhat | /ˈsʌm.wʌt/ |
| earwhig | /ˈɪər.wɪɡ/ |
| anywhen | /ˈeni.wen/ |
| bewhiskered | /bɪˈwɪs.kərd/ |
| diswhisper | /dɪsˈwɪs.pər/ |
| herewhiles | /ˈhɪəˌwaɪlz/ |
| housewifery | /ˈhaʊs.wɪ.fəri/ |
| landwhale | /ˈlænd.weɪl/ |
| somewhere | /ˈsʌm.weər/ |
| somewhatly | /ˈsʌm.wɒt.li/ |
| meanwhile | /ˈmiːn.waɪl/ |
| elsewhen | /ˈels.wen/ |
| elsewhere | /ˈels.weər/ |
| outwhirl | /ˈaʊt.wɜːl/ |
| sandwhiched | /ˈsænd.wɪʧt/ |
| overwhip | /ˈəʊ.vər.wɪp/ |
| overwhirl | /ˈəʊ.vər.wɜːl/ |
| otherwhere | /ˈʌð.ə.weər/ |
| northwestern | /ˌnɔːθˈwes.tən/ |
| southwest | /ˌsaʊθˈwest/ |
| elsewhere | /ˈels.weər/ |
| somewhatness | /ˈsʌm.wɒt.nəs/ |
| overwhisper | /ˌəʊ.vəˈwɪs.pər/ |
| herewhiles | /ˈhɪəˌwaɪlz/ |
| betwixtwhiles | /bɪˌtwɪkstˈwaɪlz/ |
| outwhisper | /ˈaʊt.wɪs.pər/ |
| goodwhiles | /ˈɡʊd.waɪlz/ |
| forewhip | /ˈfɔːr.wɪp/ |
| outwhirl | /ˈaʊt.wɜːl/ |
| overwhirl | /ˈəʊ.və.wɜːl/ |
| overwhip | /ˈəʊ.və.wɪp/ |
| herewhiles | /ˈhɪə.waɪlz/ |
| sandwhiched | /ˈsænd.wɪʧt/ |
| landwhale | /ˈlænd.weɪl/ |
| anywhen | /ˈeni.wen/ |
| everywhen | /ˈev.ri.wen/ |
| elsewhen | /ˈels.wen/ |
| nowhere | /ˈnəʊ.weər/ |
| somewhere | /ˈsʌm.weər/ |
| elsewhere | /ˈels.weər/ |
| somewhat | /ˈsʌm.wɒt/ |
| meanwhile | /ˈmiːn.waɪl/ |
| outwhirl | /ˈaʊt.wɜːl/ |
| overwhirl | /ˈəʊ.və.wɜːl/ |
| northwards | /ˈnɔːθ.wədz/ |
| elsewhere | /ˈels.weər/ |
| otherwhere | /ˈʌð.ə.weər/ |
| herewhiles | /ˈhɪə.waɪlz/ |
| betwixtwhiles | /bɪˌtwɪkstˈwaɪlz/ |
| outwhisper | /ˈaʊt.wɪs.pər/ |
| overwhisper | /ˌəʊ.vəˈwɪs.pər/ |
| sandwhiched | /ˈsænd.wɪʧt/ |
| landwhale | /ˈlænd.weɪl/ |
| bewhiskered | /bɪˈwɪs.kəd/ |
| diswhisper | /dɪsˈwɪs.pər/ |
| herewhiles | /ˈhɪə.waɪlz/ |
| elsewhere | /ˈels.weər/ |
| somewhat | /ˈsʌm.wɒt/ |
| somewhere | /ˈsʌm.weər/ |
| nowhere | /ˈnəʊ.weər/ |