Phonics sounds chart: letter sounds, digraphs and vowel teams
Phonics teaches the sound a letter makes, not its name: the letter b is called "bee" but says /b/ as in ball. Children blend sounds to read (/c/ /a/ /t/, cat) and split them to spell.
Class 1 children learn the single letter sounds and read short words (cat, pen, sun). Class 2 and 3 children learn digraphs, where two letters make one sound (sh, ch, th), and vowel teams (ee, ai, oa).
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Phonics Sounds: Letter sounds, digraphs and vowel teams
Letter sounds a to z
- a – ant (/a/)
- b – ball (/b/)
- c – cat (/c/)
- d – dog (/d/)
- e – egg (/e/)
- f – fish (/f/)
- g – goat (/g/)
- h – hat (/h/)
- i – ink (/i/)
- j – jug (/j/)
- k – kite (/k/)
- l – lamp (/l/)
- m – mango (/m/)
- n – nest (/n/)
- o – ox (/o/)
- p – pen (/p/)
- q – queen (/q/)
- r – rat (/r/)
- s – sun (/s/)
- t – top (/t/)
- u – umbrella (/u/)
- v – van (/v/)
- w – watch (/w/)
- x – fox (/x/)
- y – yak (/y/)
- z – zebra (/z/)
Digraphs: two letters, one sound
- sh – ship (/sh/)
- ch – chair (/ch/)
- th – thumb (/th/)
- ck – duck (/ck/)
- ng – ring (/ng/)
- qu – queen (/qu/)
Vowel teams and r sounds
- ee – tree (/ee/)
- ea – leaf (/ea/)
- ai – rain (/ai/)
- ay – play (/ay/)
- oa – boat (/oa/)
- oo – moon (/oo/)
- igh – light (/igh/)
- ar – car (/ar/)
- or – fork (/or/)
- er – her (/er/)
- ow – cow (/ow/)
- oi – coin (/oi/)
Practice
- Sounds in cat: ___ ___ ___
- Blend /sh/ /o/ /p/: ______
- Two letters, one sound in ring: ______
- Sounds in chip: ___ ___ ___
How to use this chart at home
- Say the sound, not the letter name: /m/ is "mmm", not "em". Keep stop sounds short: /b/, /d/, /t/ with the smallest "uh".
- Blend slowly with a finger under each letter: /s/ /u/ /n/ … sun.
- Stretch continuant sounds (/s/, /m/, /f/, /l/, /n/, /r/, /z/) so your child hears them join.
- Sound hunt: pick a sound and find three things at home that start with it.
- Digraphs are one sound: in ship, s and h do not say /s/ /h/; they say /sh/ together.
How to say each letter sound
| Sound | Sounds like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| /a/ | ah | ant |
| /b/ | buh | ball |
| /c/ | kuh | cat |
| /d/ | duh | dog |
| /e/ | eh | egg |
| /f/ | fff | fish |
| /g/ | guh | goat |
| /h/ | h (a soft breath) | hat |
| /i/ | ih | ink |
| /j/ | juh | jug |
| /k/ | kuh | kite |
| /l/ | lll | lamp |
| /m/ | mmm | mango |
| /n/ | nnn | nest |
| /o/ | aw | ox |
| /p/ | puh | pen |
| /q/ | kwuh | queen |
| /r/ | rrr | rat |
| /s/ | sss | sun |
| /t/ | tuh | top |
| /u/ | uh | umbrella |
| /v/ | vvv | van |
| /w/ | wuh | watch |
| /x/ | ks | fox |
| /y/ | yuh | yak |
| /z/ | zzz | zebra |
How to say digraphs and vowel teams
| Sound | Sounds like | Example |
|---|---|---|
| /sh/ | shhh | ship |
| /ch/ | chuh | chair |
| /th/ | th (tongue between the teeth) | thumb |
| /ck/ | kuh | duck |
| /ng/ | ng | ring |
| /qu/ | kwuh | queen |
| /ee/ | ee | tree |
| /ea/ | ee | leaf |
| /ai/ | ay | rain |
| /ay/ | ay | play |
| /oa/ | oh | boat |
| /oo/ | oo | moon |
| /igh/ | eye | light |
| /ar/ | arr | car |
| /or/ | or | fork |
| /er/ | er | her |
| /ow/ | ow | cow |
| /oi/ | oy | coin |
Practice
- What sounds are in "cat"?
Show answer
/c/ /a/ /t/ - Blend /sh/ /o/ /p/.
Show answer
shop - Which two letters make one sound in "ring"?
Show answer
ng - Which word has the /ee/ sound: tree or tap?
Show answer
tree - How many sounds are in "chip"?
Show answer
Three: /ch/ /i/ /p/
Lessons on MangoMindz
- Class 1 English: Letters and sounds: Free picture lessons and a quiz
- Class 1 English: Short vowel words: Free picture lessons and a quiz
- Class 2 English: Sounds and spelling: Free picture lessons and a quiz
- Parent guide: phonics and CVC words
More printable charts
- Rhyming Words: 30 English word families and 15 Hindi तुकांत sets.
- Opposite Words: 40 English opposites and 26 Hindi विलोम शब्द in pairs.
- Days and Months: The 7 days and 12 months in English and Hindi, with days in each month.
- All free printable charts: Tables 1–20, number names, Hindi and English charts
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a letter name and a letter sound?
The name is what we call the letter ("bee", "em"); the sound is what it says in a word (/b/ in ball, /m/ in mango). Reading uses sounds.
What is a digraph?
Two letters that make one sound: sh in ship, ch in chair, th in thumb, ck in duck, ng in ring.
In which order should sounds be taught?
Common schemes start with s, a, t, p, i, n, so a child can read words (sat, pin, tap) after only six sounds, then add the rest, then digraphs and vowel teams.