sh, ch, th — Phonics for kids

How the sounds work

Two letters, one sound — “sh, ch and th are read together as ONE sound”

1. Look for the pairs sh, ch and th in a word.
2. Read the pair as one sound: sh-ee-p, not s-h-ee-p.
3. The pair can be at the start (ship) or the end (fish, watch, tooth).

Use it for: Reading and spelling words like ship, chair, fish, watch and three.

Worked example: 🐑 _ _eep — which two letters are missing? → sh

✏️ Practice

Listen (🔊), look at the pictures, then tap the answer. Grown-ups: read the question together.

🏁 Lesson 16 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 🚢 Digraph Captain badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 9 lessons of Part 3 · Digraphs and long vowels. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Digraphs Worksheet – sh, ch, th

• Worksheet set 1 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 2 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 3 (PDF)