For parents of young learners
Digraph words for kids: sh, ch, th, wh, ph, ck and ng
A digraph is two letters that make one sound, like sh in ship or ch in chair. Once children know single letter sounds, digraphs are the next step in reading. Here are 70 digraph words, 10 for each sound, with sentences and games.
By the Eloqova team · Updated 26 October 2026
Key idea for children: "Two letters, one sound." Ask your child to underline the two letters together before reading the word.
The 7 common digraphs and their sounds
| Digraph | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sh | the 'quiet please' sound | ship |
| ch | the 'train' sound | chair |
| th | tongue between the teeth | thumb, this |
| wh | like w | whale |
| ph | like f | phone |
| ck | like k, at the end of short words | duck |
| ng | a sound made at the back of the mouth | ring |
sh words
- ship
- shop
- fish
- dish
- shell
- shoe
- sheep
- wash
- brush
- push
ch words
- chin
- chip
- chair
- cheese
- chick
- lunch
- bench
- much
- rich
- peach
th words
- thin
- thick
- think
- three
- thumb
- bath
- math
- moth
- this
- that
wh words
- when
- what
- where
- which
- whale
- wheel
- white
- whip
- whisk
- whistle
ph words
- phone
- photo
- dolphin
- elephant
- graph
- alphabet
- trophy
- phonics
- nephew
- sphere
ck words
- duck
- sock
- back
- rock
- kick
- clock
- truck
- neck
- pack
- stick
ng words
- ring
- sing
- king
- song
- long
- swing
- wing
- bang
- lung
- strong
Digraph sentences to read aloud
| Digraph | Sentence |
|---|---|
| sh | The fish is in the dish. |
| ch | The chick sat on the chair. |
| th | I think three is a lucky number. |
| wh | What is that white whale doing? |
| ph | The elephant is in the photo. |
| ck | The duck has a red sock. |
| ng | The king can sing a long song. |
How to practise at home
- Sort picture cards into sh, ch and th piles.
- Digraph hunt: find sh and ch words on signs and packets.
- Say a word aloud and ask your child to name the digraph they hear.
- Read the sentences together, then make up a silly one for each digraph.
Questions parents ask
What is a digraph?
Two letters that make one sound, such as sh, ch, th, wh, ph, ck and ng.
When should children learn digraphs?
Usually after they know the single letter sounds and can read simple CVC words like cat and pin, often in UKG or Class 1.
What is the difference between a digraph and a blend?
In a digraph, two letters make one new sound (sh in ship). In a blend, you can still hear each letter (b and l in black).