Which term refers to two consecutive consonants that represent one phoneme or sound, such as ch, sh, wh, ph, th?

Prepare for the Reading Specialist 221 Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations to enhance your readiness. Ace your test!

Multiple Choice

Which term refers to two consecutive consonants that represent one phoneme or sound, such as ch, sh, wh, ph, th?

Consonant digraphs are two consonants that together make a single phoneme. That’s why the pairs ch, sh, wh, ph, and th are described as digraphs: each pair yields one distinct sound rather than two separate sounds. For example, ch represents the /tʃ/ sound in chair, sh represents /ʃ/ as in ship, ph represents /f/ as in photo, and th represents /θ/ or /ð/ as in thin or this. In contrast, consonant blends like bl, gr, or st combine two consonants but each keeps its own sound, so you hear two phonemes rather than one. A phonogram is a broader term for a letter combination that represents a sound, but it isn’t as specifically about two consonants forming one sound as digraphs are. Syllables are units of rhythm in speech and not about letter-to-sound correspondences.

Consonant digraphs are two consonants that together make a single phoneme. That’s why the pairs ch, sh, wh, ph, and th are described as digraphs: each pair yields one distinct sound rather than two separate sounds. For example, ch represents the /tʃ/ sound in chair, sh represents /ʃ/ as in ship, ph represents /f/ as in photo, and th represents /θ/ or /ð/ as in thin or this. In contrast, consonant blends like bl, gr, or st combine two consonants but each keeps its own sound, so you hear two phonemes rather than one. A phonogram is a broader term for a letter combination that represents a sound, but it isn’t as specifically about two consonants forming one sound as digraphs are. Syllables are units of rhythm in speech and not about letter-to-sound correspondences.

More practice questions