Digraph (2 letters, 1 sound)

The "ch" sound — /ch/

As in chin. Tap play to hear the sound, see the mouth shape, and learn 5 words to practice.

chin — keyword picture for the ch sound

Mouth shape

Like 'tsh' - tongue behind teeth

Gesture

Pretend to be a train and say ch-ch-ch

Example words

  • chin
  • chop
  • chip
  • chat
  • check

How to teach the “ch” sound

  1. Hear it first. Tap Play three times. Have your child watch your mouth while you copy the sound — no letter name yet, just the pure sound /ch/.
  2. Do the gesture. Pretend to be a train and say ch-ch-ch— kids remember sounds 2× faster when there’s a physical action attached.
  3. Find it in words. Read the 5 example words aloud slowly, stretching the /ch/ sound: “c–h–i–n”.
  4. Spot it around the house. “Can you find something that starts with /ch/?” Aim for 3 wins in a row before stopping.
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ABC Phonics — Sounds for Kids