Digraph it's the two letter encounter that when pronounced emit a single phoneThe. Examples of digraphs are: nascer, morrer, teapray issthe, thewhatilo.
The word "digraph" has a Greek origin, being formed by the joining of the terms di (two) + fork (write). In other languages, there may be trigraphs (three letters) or quadrigraphs (four letters). For example, in the German language, "tsch" (It gavetschland) represents only one sound.
In Portuguese, the digraphs are classified into vowel (encounter of two letters that form a vowel sound) and Consonant (encounter of two letters that form a consonant sound).
Examples of Vocal Digraphs
• am: ambiguous, champion
• an: antithesis, cloak
• in: memory, time
• en: wind, sit
• im: impurity, symbol
• in: interior, synthesis
• om: shadow, pomp
• on: yesterday, I tell
• a: tomb, greeting
• un: deep, dizzy, world
Examples of Consonant Digraphs
• lh: floor, crumb
• huh: i have, wine
• tea: arrive, flat
• rr: jar, handrail
• ss: mass, ride
• what and gu (followed by e or i): hot, palmistry
• sc: ascend, grow
• sec: I grow, I go down
• xc: excellent, excessive
• xs: exude, desiccate
It is important to point out that in order to have a consonant cluster, the two consonants must have two distinct sounds. Example: letra (t sound and r sound). In case they present only one sound, we have already seen that they are digraphs. Example: ateatied (x sound).
