The Difference Between Blends and Digraphs and ListsMaking English Fun

Two key terms you are sure to have come across in the MANY phonics terms bandied around are Blends and digraphs. While they may sound similar, the sounds not the actual words, their roles and functions in the English language are distinct.

Blends combine two or more consonants where each sound is heard, like ‘bl’ in “black.” Digraphs, on the other hand, blend two letters to create a single, distinct sound, such as ‘ch’ in “church.” Both are common phonic features in English.

The purpose of this article is to help explain what these terms mean in English and provide a clear, concise explanation of the differences between blends and digraphs. For teachers and parents, this knowledge is important in supporting children’s literacy journey.

The Difference Between Blends and Digraphs.

We have two printable lists of Blends and Digraphs that can help you see and understand the differences You can print and download them in the article below.

Understanding Phonics: A Brief Overview

Phonics is the foundation upon which reading and writing skills are built. It involves the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and their corresponding letters or letter patterns (graphemes).

A solid grasp of phonics is not just about recognizing letters and sounds; it’s about understanding how these elements come together to form words.

Phonics education typically starts with individual sounds and gradually progresses to more complex structures, including blends and digraphs.

What are Consonant Blends?

Blends, often referred to as consonant blends, are groups of two or three consonants in a word where each consonant’s sound is pronounced individually, but rapidly, so they blend together.

Unlike digraphs, which we will explore later, the individual letters within a blend maintain their own sounds.

Common examples include ‘bl’ in “blue,” ‘st’ in “stop,” and ‘str’ in “street.”

In educational settings, teaching blends is a step towards enhancing phonemic awareness in children.

Lists of Blends in English

Initial Consonant Blends

bl- (as in “blow,” “blank”)
br- (as in “brain,” “broke”)
cl- (as in “clap,” “clean”)
cr- (as in “crash,” “crisp”)
dr- (as in “drum,” “drive”)
fl- (as in “flag,” “float”)
fr- (as in “free,” “frost”)
gl- (as in “glow,” “glide”)
gr- (as in “green,” “grow”)
pl- (as in “play,” “plum”)
pr- (as in “pray,” “price”)
sc- (as in “scan,” “scoop”)
sk- (as in “skate,” “skin”)
sl- (as in “slow,” “sled”)
sm- (as in “small,” “smile”)
sn- (as in “snack,” “snow”)
sp- (as in “spoon,” “spill”)
st- (as in “star,” “stop”)
sw- (as in “swim,” “sweep”)
tr- (as in “tree,” “truck”)

Ending Consonant Blends

-ct (as in “act,” “direct”)
-ft (as in “gift,” “soft”)
-ld (as in “cold,” “fold”)
-lf (as in “self,” “shelf”)
-lk (as in “milk,” “walk”)
-lt (as in “belt,” “melt”)
-mp (as in “jump,” “camp”)
-nd (as in “land,” “send”)
-ng (as in “long,” “ring”)
-nk (as in “bank,” “sink”)
-nt (as in “tent,” “bent”)
-rd (as in “bird,” “hard”)
-rk (as in “park,” “work”)
-rm (as in “arm,” “warm”)
-rn (as in “burn,” “turn”)
-rp (as in “sharp,” “carp”)
-rt (as in “cart,” “short”)
-sk (as in “desk,” “mask”)
-sp (as in “clasp,” “wasp”)
-st (as in “last,” “post”)

You can download the Consonant Blends list below.

List of Consonant BlendsDownload

What are Digraphs?

Digraphs are pairs of letters that together make a single sound, distinct from the sounds of the individual letters on their own.

They can be made up of vowels (like ‘ea’ in “bread”) or consonants (like ‘ch’ in “chop”). The crucial aspect of digraphs is that the two letters work as a team to produce a unique sound that is not a mere blend of their individual sounds.

The teaching of digraphs often requires a different approach than that used for blends. Since digraphs represent a single phoneme, it is vital for learners to understand this unified sound.

Activities like matching games, where children connect words with their corresponding digraphs, or storybooks that highlight particular digraphs, can be effective.

Consonant Digraphs

ch- (as in “chair,” “cheese”)
-ch (as in “lunch,” “much”)
gh- (as in “ghost,” “ghoul”) [often silent at end of words]
-gh (as in “though,” “enough”) [often silent/ pronounced as /f/]
kn- (as in “knot,” “know”) [k is silent]
-ck (as in “back,” “clock”)
ng- (as in “sing,” “long”)
ph- (as in “phone,” “photo”)
qu- (as in “queen,” “quick”)
sh- (as in “ship,” “shoe”)
-sh (as in “wish,” “brush”)
th- (as in “think,” “thank”)
-th (as in “bath,” “with”)
wh- (as in “what,” “when”)
wr- (as in “write,” “wrong”) [w is silent]

Vowel Digraphs

ai- (as in “rain,” “paint”)
ay- (as in “say,” “play”)
ea- (as in “read,” “sea”)
ee- (as in “see,” “tree”)
ie- (as in “pie,” “lie”)
oa- (as in “boat,” “road”)
oe- (as in “toe,” “foe”)
oi- (as in “coin,” “boil”)
oo- (as in “book,” “moon”)
ou- (as in “out,” “house”)
ow- (as in “cow,” “bow”)
oy- (as in “toy,” “boy”)
ue- (as in “blue,” “glue”)
ui- (as in “fruit,” “suit”)

Split Digraphs (Silent e)

a-e (as in “cake,” “make”)
e-e (as in “these,” “theme”)
i-e (as in “like,” “time”)
o-e (as in “home,” “bone”)
u-e (as in “tune,” “rude”)

You can download the digraphs list below.

List of Digraphs In EnglishDownload

Teaching Strategies for Blends and Digraphs

Effective teaching of blends and digraphs can significantly enhance a child’s literacy skills. Here are some strategies:

For Blends:

Sound Recognition Activities: Use exercises that focus on identifying each sound in a blend.
Segmentation and Blending Practice: Engage students in breaking down words into individual sounds and then blending them back together.
Visual and Tactile Aids: Incorporate flashcards and letter tiles to help visualize and manipulate blends.

For Digraphs:

Phoneme Isolation Exercises: Help children recognize the unique sound of a digraph as distinct from its individual letters.
Contextual Learning: Use words in sentences and stories to demonstrate how digraphs function within the context of language.
Interactive Games and Activities: Implement games that focus on matching digraphs with corresponding words or pictures.

Both blends and digraphs are essential components of phonics education, and understanding their differences is key to teaching them effectively.

Practical Applications and Examples

Practical applications and real-world examples help in solidifying the understanding of blends and digraphs. These examples also demonstrate how mastery of these elements contributes to language proficiency.

Blends in Practice:

Real-World Usage: Words like ‘spring’ and ‘blast’ are common in everyday language. Breaking these down helps students recognize and use blends effectively.

Classroom Activities: Activities like ‘blend scavenger hunts’ where students find words with specific blends in books or around the classroom can be engaging and educational.

Digraphs in Context:

Everyday Examples: Digraphs like ‘th’ in “the” and ‘ch’ in “cheese” are prevalent. Highlighting these in regular conversations can reinforce learning.
Storytelling and Reading: Using storybooks that focus on specific digraphs helps in contextualizing these sounds within a narrative, making it more memorable for students.

Conclusion

For teachers and parents, knowing the difference between blends and digraphs equips them with the tools to support children in developing robust reading and writing skills. It is something we were often not taught when we were at school.

Recognizing and correctly using blends and digraphs not only aids in phonemic awareness but also in spelling and comprehension.

References and Further Reading

Making English Fun!

I have been a teacher of English for over 15 years, in that time i made hundreds and thousands of resources and learnt so much i think its worth sharing. Hopefully to help teachers and parents around the world.

The Difference Between Blends and Digraphs and Lists

Understanding Phonics: A Brief Overview

What are Consonant Blends?