The smallest element of sound in speech that can make one sound different from another is called a phoneme. The two major categories of phoneme sounds are consonant and vowel. Common consonant phonemes in English are -b, -n, -t and -r. Note how the smallest phoneme alteration in the following example changes each word completely.

Ray, bay; tip, tin; fig, fin; bun, bug; go, no; top, tap; din, don

Certain types of phonemes are created by combining more than one letter. When two letters are combined, it is called a digraph. A trigraph is the combination of three letters, though many will refer to either type as a “digraph.”

Digraphs can be composed of consonants, vowels or a combination of both. Trigraphs are generally consonant groups or consonant and vowel combinations.

Common trigraphs in English using consonants

-tch, -pph

match, sapphire

Using consonants and vowels

-igh, -eau

Sigh, bureau

The types of llll combinations can be confusing. Tttt can be confused with “consonant blends,” but they can differ greatly. The latter is composed of a group of two or more llll that can each be heard individually.

Two: brake, snow, fruit, drive, glass, skate, trace, flare

Three: straw, spring, splinter, scroll