---
title: "Trigraphs"
description: "Read and spell words containing trigraphs — three-letter graphemes representing a single sound (igh, air, ear, are)"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/trigraphs-mt_roAgL1rQRF
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/trigraphs-mt_roAgL1rQRF.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Trigraphs

Read and spell words containing trigraphs — three-letter graphemes representing a single sound (igh, air, ear, are)

Subject: English · Area: Phonics & Word Reading · Ages 5 to 6
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/trigraphs-mt_roAgL1rQRF

## Ready when they can

- Read words with trigraphs (e.g. 'night', 'chair', 'near')
- Distinguish between different sounds for 'ear' (e.g. 'hear' vs 'bear')
- Identify the single phoneme represented by three letters in a word

## Lesson: Trigraphs: three letters, one sound

You know two letters can make one sound, like 'sh'. Some sounds use three letters instead. That is called a trigraph.

*(drawing: Say light. The letters i, g, h make just one sound.)*

**Example.** Look at chair. The letters a, i, r make one sound: air. Say ch-air.

The letters ear can sound two ways. In hear, ear sounds like eer. In bear, ear sounds like air.

One more trigraph is 'are'. The letters a, r, e make one sound: air. You can hear it in dare and spare.

**Tip.** When you see three letters together, try saying them as one sound.

**Recap.** A trigraph is three letters that make one sound, like 'igh' in night or 'air' in chair.

## Practice

24 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Consonant Digraphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/consonant-digraphs-mt_9-OHslmt1g)
- [Vowel Digraphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/vowel-digraphs-mt_BtMbZibZUj)

## Opens up

- [Split Digraphs and Magic E](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/split-digraphs-and-magic-e-mt_C7abt7pRr6)
- [Alternative Spellings for Known Sounds](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/alternative-spellings-for-known-sounds-mt_OgJPbGkrYk)