Digraph Words: sh, ch, th, wh and ck Lists
A digraph is two letters that make one sound, like sh in ship. This page has four 10-word lists: sh words, ch words, th words, and a mixed list of wh and ck words. Your child can play each list, take a typed practice test, or you can print sheets to practice on paper.
Digraph words
Digraph word lists: sh, ch, th, wh and ck
| List | Grade hint | Words | Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digraph sh words | 1 | ship, shop, shut, shed, fish, dish, wish, cash, shell, brush | Play & test |
| Digraph ch words | 1 | chin, chop, chip, chat, rich, much, such, lunch, bench, chest | Play & test |
| Digraph th words | 1 | this, that, then, them, thin, thick, bath, math, with, moth | Play & test |
| Digraphs wh and ck | 1 | when, what, which, whip, duck, back, sock, kick, neck, luck | Play & test |
Print digraph worksheets
Digraph or blend: what is the difference?
In a digraph, two letters join to make a brand new sound. The s and h in shop do not say /s/ and /h/; together they say /sh/. In a blend, you still hear both letters, quickly one after the other: st in stop is /s/ plus /t/.
A simple test with your child: say the word slowly. If you can stretch the two letters apart and still hear both, it is a blend. If they melt into one sound, it is a digraph.
Notes on each digraph in the lists
- sh shows up at the start (ship, shell) and at the end (fish, brush).
- ch also works in both spots: chin, chop, lunch, bench.
- th has two sounds. In this and them your throat buzzes (voiced). In thin and bath it is only air (unvoiced). Let your child put a hand on their throat to feel the difference.
- wh sounds like /w/ for most US speakers: when, what, which. That is why it has to be learned as a spelling.
- ck comes only at the end of a word, right after a short vowel: duck, back, neck. It never starts a word.
Why build the word keeps each digraph as one tile
In the build-the-word game, sh, ch, th and ck come as a single letter tile. Your child places one tile for one sound, so fish takes three tiles: f, i, sh. That matches what the ear hears and helps children think of the digraph as one unit, not two loose letters.
Words are read aloud by your device's built-in voice, when it has one; otherwise the word is shown and a grown-up can read it.
Digraph activities away from the screen
- Digraph sort: write the 10 words from two lists on scraps of paper and sort them into an sh pile and a ch pile.
- Sound hunt: open a picture book and hunt for th or sh words on one page.
- Printed sheets: make trace-and-write, missing letters or a word search with the spelling worksheet generator.
You may also meet two vowels that work together, as in rain, feet and boat. Some teachers call those vowel digraphs, but they are usually taught later as vowel teams.
Frequently asked questions
What are some digraph examples for kids?
Good first examples are ship, chin, this, when and duck. Each has two letters making one sound.
Which digraph should we learn first?
Many classrooms start with sh, because it is easy to hear and to stretch out. Then ch, th, and finally wh and ck.
Why does my child write duk instead of duck?
They heard the sounds correctly. Teach the rule that after a short vowel at the end of a short word, the /k/ sound is spelled ck, then practice with the wh and ck list.
What grade are digraph words taught in?
Often late kindergarten or early first grade, right after short vowels. They come first on our 1st grade spelling words page.
Can we practice digraphs with our own word list?
Yes. Type or paste any words into spelling practice for games, a typed test and printable misses.