Phonics word list
Ch words that sound like sh
In short
In a small group of words ch says /sh/, as in chef, machine and brochure. Most came into English from French. Our checked list has 18 words where ch says /sh/.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 18
- By syllables
- one syllable: 8 · two syllables: 7 · three or more syllables: 3
- By position
- initial: 7 · medial: 11 · final: 0
- Taught in
- Lesson 118 in the sequence
One spelling, more than one sound
Most lists mix these up. We count each sound separately, so a student practicing one sound only sees words that make it.
| Sound | Example | Words | List |
|---|---|---|---|
| /ch/ | chip | 621 | See the list |
| /k/ | scheme | 79 | See the list |
| /sh/ | machine | 18 | This page |
Ch words that say /sh/, most common first
Spelling units show how each word breaks into the letters that spell one sound; a_e is a vowel and silent e working together. Readable after is the first lesson where a student can sound out the whole word.
One syllable
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| chef | ch·e·f | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| chic | ch·i·c | 1 | Not in the sequence |
| cache | c·a·ch·e | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| chefs | ch·e·f·s | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| chute | ch·u_e·t | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| cached | c·a·ch·ed | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| chutes | ch·u_e·t·s | 1 | Lesson 118 |
| quiche | qu·i·ch·e | 1 | Not in the sequence |
Two syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| machine | m·a·ch·i·n·e | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| machines | m·a·ch·i·n·e·s | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| champagne | ch·a·m·p·a·gn·e | 2 | Lesson 118 |
| caches | c·a·ch·e·s | 2 | Lesson 118 |
| caching | c·a·ch·i·ng | 2 | Lesson 118 |
| machined | m·a·ch·i·n·ed | 2 | Not in the sequence |
| champagnes | ch·a·m·p·a·gn·e·s | 2 | Lesson 118 |
Three or more syllables
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|
| machinery | m·a·ch·i·n·er·y | 4 | Not in the sequence |
| machining | m·a·ch·i·n·i·ng | 3 | Not in the sequence |
| machinist | m·a·ch·i·n·i·s·t | 3 | Not in the sequence |
When do these words become readable?
The lessons where the most words on this page become decodable. Words marked not in the sequence have a spelling the sequence never teaches as a pattern.
| Readable after | Words |
|---|---|
| Lesson 118 | 10 |
| Not in the sequence | 8 |
How do you teach ch words that say /sh/?
Present this as a small, closed set the student can learn by sight. "In French, ch says /sh/. A few French words kept that sound when English borrowed them." Show chef, chute, machine and parachute. Our checked list has very few of these, so a student can learn them with a quick card each. Contrast with chin and chess so the main /ch/ sound stays the default.
What mistake do students make with ch words that say /sh/?
Students read chef with /ch/ and spell machine with sh. Both are normal. When reading, prompt the flex: "Try /sh/." When spelling, tell them the word belongs to the French group and write the ch in a different color on the card.
Where do ch words that say /sh/ come in the sequence?
Ch /sh/ is taught late, usually in the same lesson as ch /k/ and a few other uncommon spellings. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 118.
Exceptions worth knowing
Some speakers say niche with /ch/; both are accepted. Chic and chute are rare for young students. Words such as champagne are on the list because they are common in print, but you will rarely teach them.
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 118 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The chef will cook lunch.
- The chef can mix the cake.
- Did you see the chute at the park?
Questions people ask
What are 5 ch words that say /sh/?
Why does ch sound like sh in chef?
How many words have ch saying sh?
When can a student read ch words that say /sh/?
How this list was built
Every word comes from our lexicon of common English words, each split into spelling units and checked against a pronouncing dictionary, so a word is listed under the sound its spelling really makes. Words a student sees in our assessments are left out. The readable after lesson comes from our decodability engine, which checks each spelling unit and syllable pattern against the lesson sequence. You can run your own text through the same engine with the free decodable text checker.