As kids start learning to read, they come across words that have three letters working together to make one sound. These are called trigraphs. Some trigraphs are made of consonants (like tch in witch or str in street) and some use vowels (like igh in light or air in hair). Learning these trigraphs helps children read longer words more easily. This guide shows common trigraphs with examples, so reading becomes fun and simple!
Summary Table
|
Type |
Trigraphs |
|
Consonant |
tch, sch, thr, shr, scr, str, spr, spl, squ |
|
Vowel |
igh, eau, air, ear, are, ure |
Consonant Trigraphs
|
Trigraph |
Sound |
Examples |
|
tch |
/ch/ |
catch, match, witch, fetch, patch |
|
sch |
/sk/ or /sh/ |
school, scheme, schedule (British) |
|
thr |
/thr/ |
three, throw, thread, thrill |
|
shr |
/shr/ |
shrimp, shred, shrink, shrine |
|
spl |
/spl/ |
splash, split, splendid, splat |
|
spr |
/spr/ |
spring, spray, sprout, sprinkle |
|
str |
/str/ |
string, street, stripe, strong |
|
scr |
/skr/ |
scream, scrape, scratch, screen |
|
squ |
/skw/ |
square, squish, squeak, squirt |
Note: Many trigraphs like scr, spl, str are actually consonant blends (all sounds are heard), not single-sound trigraphs, but they are often grouped with trigraphs in phonics instruction due to their 3-letter clusters.
Vowel Trigraphs
|
Trigraph |
Sound |
Examples |
|
igh |
/ī/ |
light, night, sight, fight, high |
|
eau |
/ō/ or /u/ |
beauty, bureau, plateau |
|
air |
/air/ |
chair, fair, hair, stair |
|
ear |
/eer/ or /air/ |
fear, hear, beard, pear, bear |
|
are |
/air/ |
care, share, rare, flare |
|
ure |
/yoor/ |
sure, cure, pure, secure |
Note: Some vowel trigraphs include r-controlled vowels, like air, ear, and are, where the “r” changes the vowel sound.
Trigraphs are an important part of learning to read. When kids know how three letters can make one sound or blend together, reading gets easier. Keep practicing these sounds and looking for them in books and daily words. The more you spot them, the better and faster you'll read!
Struggling with trigraphs like tch, dge, or air?
🔠 Build strong decoding skills with our Phonics Flashcards – Learn to Read in 20 Stages.
👉 https://nestatoys.in/products/phonics-flash-cards-learn-to-read-in-20-stages
