Blends vs. Digraphs: What’s the Difference?
🔄 Blends and Digraphs Are Not the Same—Here’s Why That Matters
If you’ve ever heard a student say “shlip” when reading ship, you know how easily blends and digraphs can get mixed up. Though both involve two consonants, they represent very different phonics skills—and understanding the distinction is essential for proper decoding.
This post breaks down the key differences between blends and digraphs, explains how to teach them clearly, and outlines when to introduce each in your phonics sequence.
📚 What Is a Blend?
A blend is when two or more consonant sounds are pushed together, but each letter keeps its own sound. The sounds are blended smoothly but still heard individually.
Common blends include:
R-blends: br, cr, dr, gr
L-blends: bl, cl, fl, gl
S-blends: sp, st, sl, sn, sm, sc
Example:
frog = /f/ + /r/ + /o/ + /g/
You can still hear the /f/ and the /r/ in the beginning.
🔤 What Is a Digraph?
A digraph is when two letters work together to make ONE new sound. The individual letter sounds are not heard.
Common digraphs include:
sh as in ship
ch as in chip
th as in math or this
wh as in whale
Example:
ship = /sh/ + /i/ + /p/
You don’t hear /s/ and /h/ separately—it’s a single /sh/ sound.
🧠 Why It’s So Easy to Confuse Them
Both blends and digraphs:
Use two consonant letters
Appear at the beginning or end of words
Require close attention to sound
But if students try to blend a digraph or compress a blend into one sound, they’ll misread and mispronounce words.
📅 When to Teach Each One
A good scope and sequence separates blends and digraphs by type and complexity:
Teach digraphs first – they are simpler to identify as a single sound unit. Start with sh, ch, and th.
Introduce beginning blends next – once students can blend 2–3 sounds smoothly.
Follow with ending blends and 3-letter blends (scr, spl, str, etc.).
This sequence supports orthographic mapping and helps prevent confusion.
🧠 Quick Check: Blend or Digraph?
Try these with your students:
chat → digraph
flag → blend
that → digraph
drip → blend
shed → digraph
snack → blend
Encourage students to say the word out loud and listen for either two distinct sounds or one fused sound at the beginning.
🔁 Final Thought: Clarity Builds Confidence
When students know the difference between blends and digraphs, they stop guessing and start reading with confidence. This small distinction opens the door to smoother decoding, more accurate spelling, and stronger reading fluency.
