When ch Says k and sh
Learn the three sounds of ch in phonics. ch can say 'ch' in chair, 'k' in school, and 'sh' in chef. A fun reading lesson for kids with word games.
Key takeaways
- ch usually says 'ch', like in chair
- Sometimes ch says 'k', like in school
- Sometimes ch says 'sh', like in chef
One spelling, three sounds
You already know ch in words like chair and cheese. But did you know ch has three different sounds? Let's meet them all! 🧑🍳
Sound 1: ch says 'ch'
This is the most common sound.
- chair 🪑
- cheese 🧀
- chip 🍟
- lunch 🥪
Say chair slowly: ch - air. The usual ch sound! 🪑
Sound 2: ch says 'k'
In a few words, ch sounds just like k.
- school 🏫
- Christmas 🎄
- echo 🔊
- chemist 🧪
Say school slowly: s - k - ool. It sounds like 'skool'! 🏫
Sound 3: ch says 'sh'
In a few words, ch sounds like sh.
- chef 🧑🍳
- machine ⚙️
- chute 🛝
Say chef slowly: sh - ef. The person who cooks! 🧑🍳
A helpful tip
Try the 'ch' sound first. If the word sounds funny, try 'k', then 'sh'. Soon you will remember the special words.
A little word list
Read these ch words out loud:
- chair 🪑 (ch)
- cheese 🧀 (ch)
- school 🏫 (k)
- echo 🔊 (k)
- chef 🧑🍳 (sh)
- machine ⚙️ (sh)
Play the games below to match each ch sound!
When you can read these, review the other consonant digraphs sh, ch and th and the soft c and soft g sounds.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
What sound does ch make in 'school'?
In school, ch says 'k'. It sounds like 'skool'.
What sound does ch make in 'chef'?
In chef, ch says 'sh'. It sounds like 'shef'.
Which word has the usual 'ch' sound?
Chair has the usual ch sound: ch - air.
Play & learn
Three sounds of ch +5 XP
Completed ✓ +5 XP
Match ch word to its sound +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
FAQ
Most of the time ch says 'ch' as in chair. A few special words say 'k' (school, echo) or 'sh' (chef, machine). You learn these as you read them.
English borrowed words from other languages. Greek words use ch for 'k', and French words use ch for 'sh'. That gives us three sounds!
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