Graphemes are the letters or groups of letters we use to represent the sounds in spoken words. Understanding graphemes is an essential part of phonics, as children use them to read words, spell words and develop their understanding of how written language works.
In this guide, you’ll learn what graphemes are, how they relate to phonemes and GPCs, and how children learn to use graphemes when reading and spelling.
What Is a Grapheme?
A grapheme is a letter or group of letters that represents a phoneme (sound).
A grapheme can contain one, two, three or more letters.
For example:
- s → /s/
- m → /m/
- sh → /sh/
- ee → /ee/
- igh → /igh/
The letters sh work together to represent one phoneme, /sh/, even though the grapheme contains two letters.
Simple way to remember:
Phoneme = the sound we hear
Grapheme = the letter or letters we see
GPC = the relationship between the two
[Learn more about GPCs →]
Grapheme Examples
Here are some common graphemes and the phonemes they can represent:
| Grapheme | Phoneme | Example |
|---|---|---|
| s | /s/ | sun |
| m | /m/ | moon |
| t | /t/ | tap |
| p | /p/ | pig |
| sh | /sh/ | ship |
| ch | /ch/ | chip |
| th | /th/ | thin |
| ai | /ai/ | rain |
| ee | /ee/ | sheep |
| oa | /oa/ | boat |
| igh | /igh/ | night |
| oo | /oo/ | moon |
Children gradually learn more graphemes as they progress through phonics.
Graphemes and Phonemes
Graphemes and phonemes are closely connected, but they are not the same thing.
A phoneme is a unit of sound in spoken language.
A grapheme is the written representation of that sound.
For example, in the word ship:
sh → /sh/
i → /i/
p → /p/
The word contains three phonemes:
/sh/ /i/ /p/
and the graphemes are:
sh – i – p
This relationship between sounds and their written representations is fundamental to phonics.
[Learn About Phonemes →]
What Is a GPC?
GPC stands for grapheme-phoneme correspondence.
A GPC describes the relationship between a grapheme and the phoneme it represents.
For example:
s → /s/
m → /m/
sh → /sh/
ee → /ee/
Children learn GPCs as part of systematic phonics teaching.
Once children know a GPC, they can use it when reading and spelling words.
[Learn About GPCs →]
How Many Letters Can a Grapheme Have?
Graphemes can contain different numbers of letters.
Single-Letter Graphemes
Some phonemes are represented by a single letter.
Examples include:
s → /s/
m → /m/
t → /t/
p → /p/
These are some of the first graphemes children learn during phonics.
Two-Letter Graphemes
Some phonemes are represented by two letters working together.
Examples include:
sh → /sh/
ch → /ch/
th → /th/
ee → /ee/
ai → /ai/
Many two-letter graphemes are digraphs.
Three-Letter Graphemes
Some phonemes are represented by three letters.
Examples include:
igh → /igh/
air → /air/
ure → /ure/
These are commonly known as trigraphs.
What Is a Split Digraph?
A split digraph is made up of two letters that work together to represent a vowel phoneme, with another letter between them.
For example:
a-e → cake
i-e → time
o-e → home
e-e → these
u-e → cube
The two letters are separated within the word but work together as one grapheme.
[Learn About Split Digraphs →]
Graphemes and Reading
Children use their knowledge of graphemes when learning to read.
When children see a written word, they identify the graphemes and recall the phonemes they represent.
For example:
c – a – t
→ /c/ /a/ /t/
→ cat
Children then blend the phonemes together to read the word.
As children learn more graphemes, they can decode an increasing number of words.
[Learn About Blending and Segmenting →]
Graphemes and Spelling
Graphemes are also important when children learn to spell.
When spelling a word, children listen for the phonemes and choose the graphemes they need to represent those sounds.
For example:
rain
The child segments the word:
/r/ /ai/ /n/
Then chooses the graphemes:
r – ai – n
→ rain
This is why children need to develop both blending and segmenting skills.
Alternative Graphemes
One of the important things children learn as they progress through phonics is that the same phoneme can sometimes be represented by different graphemes.
For example, the phoneme /ai/ can be represented in several ways:
ai → rain
ay → play
a-e → cake
Similarly, the phoneme /ee/ can be represented by:
ee → sheep
ea → beach
e-e → these
This is particularly important during Phase 5, when children learn alternative graphemes and pronunciations.
Graphemes Across the Phonics Phases
Children learn graphemes progressively as they move through systematic phonics.
Phase 2 Graphemes
Children begin learning their first grapheme-phoneme correspondences.
They learn graphemes such as:
s, a, t, p, i, n
They then use these to blend and segment simple words.
For example:
sat
pin
tap
Phase 3 Graphemes
Children learn additional graphemes, including many digraphs and trigraphs.
Examples include:
ch
sh
th
ai
ee
igh
Children use these new graphemes to read and spell a wider range of words.
Phase 4 Graphemes
Phase 4 focuses on applying previously taught graphemes when reading and spelling words containing adjacent consonants.
Examples include:
frog
stamp
crisp
jump
Phase 5 Graphemes
Children learn that phonemes can have different graphemes and that graphemes can sometimes represent different phonemes.
For example:
ai → rain
ay → play
a-e → cake
Children develop greater flexibility when reading and spelling unfamiliar words.
Phase 6 Graphemes
Children continue applying their phonics knowledge while developing more advanced spelling and reading skills.
They learn about spelling patterns, suffixes, prefixes and other spelling conventions.
Grapheme Examples by Sound
The same phoneme can sometimes have several possible graphemes.
/ai/
ai → rain
ay → play
a-e → cake
/ee/
ee → sheep
ea → beach
e-e → these
/oa/
oa → boat
ow → snow
o-e → home
/igh/
igh → night
i-e → time
y → my
Learning these alternative graphemes helps children become more confident readers and spellers.
How Do Children Learn Graphemes?
Children learn graphemes gradually through systematic phonics teaching.
1. Children Hear a Phoneme
They listen carefully to a sound.
For example:
/m/
2. They Learn the Grapheme
They learn that m can represent /m/.
3. They Practise Recognition
Children see m and recall:
/m/
4. They Use the Grapheme in Words
For example:
m – a – t
→ mat
5. They Use the Grapheme for Spelling
Children hear /m/ in a word and know that m can represent this sound.
Repeated practice helps children develop increasingly automatic recall.
Grapheme Activities
Grapheme practice does not need to be complicated. Short, regular activities can help children develop confidence.
Grapheme Flashcards
Show a grapheme and ask:
What sound does this grapheme represent?
For example:
sh
→ /sh/
Grapheme Matching
Give children grapheme and phoneme cards and ask them to match the pairs.
For example:
sh → /sh/
ch → /ch/
ee → /ee/
Grapheme Hunt
Choose a grapheme and ask children to find it in books or around the classroom.
For example:
Can you find sh?
Children can identify words such as:
ship
shop
fish
Build a Word
Give children grapheme cards and ask them to build words.
For example:
sh + i + p
→ ship
Then ask the child to sound out and blend the word.
Sort by Sound
Give children words containing different graphemes and ask them to sort them by phoneme.
For example:
/ai/
rain
play
cake
This helps children recognise that different graphemes can represent the same phoneme.
Common Grapheme Difficulties
Some children may find it difficult to remember which sounds different graphemes represent.
They may:
- confuse similar-looking letters
- forget a grapheme-phoneme correspondence
- treat a digraph as two separate sounds
- find alternative graphemes confusing
- choose the wrong grapheme when spelling
- recognise a grapheme in isolation but struggle to use it in a word
Regular practice with grapheme flashcards, word reading and spelling can help children develop more automatic recall.
Grapheme, Digraph and Trigraph: What’s the Difference?
These terms are closely related but have different meanings.
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Grapheme | A letter or group of letters representing a phoneme | sh |
| Digraph | Two letters representing one phoneme | sh |
| Trigraph | Three letters representing one phoneme | igh |
| Split digraph | Two letters representing a vowel phoneme with another letter between them | a-e |
A digraph or trigraph is therefore a type of grapheme.
[Learn About Split Digraphs →]
Graphemes and Decodable Words
Once children have learned particular graphemes, they can use them to decode words containing those graphemes.
For example, if a child knows:
sh → /sh/
i → /i/
p → /p/
they can blend:
/sh/ /i/ /p/
→ ship
This is why decodable words are an important part of phonics teaching.
Phonics Resources by Phase
Find printable resources organised by phonics phase.
[Explore Free Phonics Resources →]
Graphemes FAQs
What is a grapheme?
A grapheme is a letter or group of letters used to represent a phoneme in written language.
What is the difference between a grapheme and a phoneme?
A phoneme is a sound we hear, while a grapheme is the letter or group of letters we see that represents that sound.
What is a GPC?
GPC stands for grapheme-phoneme correspondence. It describes the relationship between a grapheme and the phoneme it represents.
Can a grapheme contain more than one letter?
Yes. A grapheme can contain one or several letters. For example, s is a single-letter grapheme, while sh and igh contain two and three letters respectively.
Is a digraph a grapheme?
Yes. A digraph is a type of grapheme made up of two letters representing one phoneme.
Is a trigraph a grapheme?
Yes. A trigraph is a type of grapheme made up of three letters representing one phoneme.
What is a split digraph?
A split digraph consists of two letters that work together to represent a vowel phoneme, with another letter between them, such as a-e in cake.
When do children learn graphemes?
Children begin learning grapheme-phoneme correspondences during the early stages of systematic phonics and continue learning new graphemes and alternative representations throughout the phonics phases.
Why are graphemes important for reading?
Children use their knowledge of graphemes to identify the sounds in written words and blend them together to read words.
Why are graphemes important for spelling?
Children use graphemes to represent the phonemes they hear when spelling words.
Continue Learning Phonics
Graphemes are one of the key building blocks of phonics. Continue exploring the sounds, spelling patterns and reading skills children develop throughout their phonics journey.
[Learn About GPCs →]
[Learn About Blending and Segmenting →]