what are the 21 consonant blends

ELiv 2025

2 min read 06-03-2025

Consonant blends, also known as consonant clusters, are groups of two or three consonants that appear together in a word, but each sound is still heard when pronounced. Mastering consonant blends is a key step in developing strong reading and spelling skills. This article will explore all 21 common consonant blends in the English language, helping you and your students understand and utilize them effectively.

Understanding Consonant Blends: A Quick Overview

Unlike consonant digraphs (like "sh" or "ch"), where two letters represent one sound, consonant blends maintain the individual sounds of each consonant. For example, in the word "blend," you hear the individual sounds of "b," "l," and "d". This contrasts with digraphs where the combination makes a distinct new sound. The blends we'll explore are all common in everyday words.

The 21 Consonant Blends: A Comprehensive List

Let's dive into the 21 common consonant blends. We'll categorize them for easier understanding. Remember, these blends can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of words.

Two-Consonant Blends:

bl (black, blue, blame)
br (brown, bring, bread)
ch (cheap, chain, choice) *(Note: While often a digraph, it can function as a blend in some words.)*
cl (clap, clean, climb)
cr (crab, cry, crown)
dr (dress, dream, drive)
fl (flag, fly, float)
fr (frog, friend, free)
gl (glass, glide, glue)
gr (grass, green, great)
pl (play, plan, plate)
pr (print, pray, proud)
sc (scare, school, scout)
sk (skip, skate, skin)
sl (sleep, slide, slow)
sm (small, smile, smart)
sn (snap, snow, snake)
sp (spin, spot, spoon)
st (stop, star, stand)
sw (swim, swing, sweet)
tr (tree, trip, train)

Activities to Practice Consonant Blends

Learning consonant blends is more effective with hands-on activities. Here are some ideas:

1. Word Sorting:

Provide a list of words containing various blends. Have students sort them into categories based on the blend they contain (e.g., all words with "bl," all words with "st," etc.).

2. Blends Bingo:

Create bingo cards with pictures or words representing different consonant blends. Call out the blends, and students mark them off their cards.

3. Sentence Creation:

Challenge students to create sentences using as many consonant blends as possible.

Conclusion: Mastering Consonant Blends for Reading Success

Understanding and practicing these 21 consonant blends significantly improves reading fluency and comprehension. By incorporating fun and engaging activities, students can confidently tackle words with these common blends. Remember to break down words, focusing on the individual sounds within the blend to help solidify understanding. Consistent practice is key to mastering these important phonetic elements.

Now that you're familiar with the 21 consonant blends, you can start using this knowledge to improve your reading and writing skills! Happy blending!