The wh Sound (as in Whale)
Learn the wh sound in phonics. The letters w and h begin question words like what and where, plus whale and wheel. A fun reading lesson with word games.
Key takeaways
- wh is a digraph: two letters together
- wh usually says a soft 'w' sound, like in whale
- Many question words start with wh: what, where, when, why
Two letters that ask questions
A digraph is two letters that make one sound. Today's digraph is wh. It usually makes a soft 'w' sound, but with a little puff of air. 🐳
Lots of question words start with wh, so it is very useful to know!
wh question words
- what ❓
- where 📍
- when ⏰
- why 🤔
- which 👉
Say what slowly: wh - at. A gentle puff, then 'at'! ❓
More wh words
- whale 🐳
- wheel 🛞
- white ⚪
- whisk 🥄
- wheat 🌾
Say whale slowly: wh - ale. The biggest animal in the sea! 🐳
A whispering tip
Try to whisper these words: what, where, why. Feel the tiny puff of air at the start? That is the h hiding inside wh. 💨
A little word list
Read these wh words out loud:
- what ❓
- where 📍
- when ⏰
- whale 🐳
- wheel 🛞
- white ⚪
Play the games below to build your own wh words!
When you can read wh, learn the question words who, what, where and meet the other consonant digraphs sh, ch and th.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
What sound does wh usually make?
wh usually makes a soft 'w' sound, like in whale and wheel.
Which is a question word that starts with wh?
Where is a question word, like what, when and why.
Which word has the wh sound?
Wheel starts with the wh digraph: wh - eel.
Play & learn
wh word cards +5 XP
Completed ✓ +5 XP
Build the wh words +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
FAQ
In most words you mainly hear a soft 'w' sound. When you whisper words like 'what', a tiny puff of air helps you feel the h.
What, where, when, why and which all start with wh. Spotting wh helps you know a question is coming!
Keep exploring
More in Learn to Read