Digraph (2 letters, 1 sound)
The "nk" sound — /nk/
As in sink. Tap play to hear the sound, see the mouth shape, and learn 5 words to practice.
Mouth shape
Nasal 'n' then 'k'
Gesture
Tap your nose and say nk-nk-nk
Example words
- sink
- pink
- bank
- tank
- drink
How to teach the “nk” sound
- 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 /nk/.
- Do the gesture. Tap your nose and say nk-nk-nk— kids remember sounds 2× faster when there’s a physical action attached.
- Find it in words. Read the 5 example words aloud slowly, stretching the /nk/ sound: “s–i–n–k”.
- Spot it around the house. “Can you find something that starts with /nk/?” Aim for 3 wins in a row before stopping.
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ABC Phonics — Sounds for Kids