Phonics word list
Ch words
In short
Ch is a consonant digraph. It usually says /ch/ as in chin and lunch, but it can also say /k/ as in school or /sh/ as in chef. Our checked list has 621 words spelled with ch.
At a glance
- Words in our list
- 621
- By syllables
- one syllable: 240 · two syllables: 289 · three or more syllables: 92
- By position
- initial: 243 · medial: 292 · final: 86
- Taught in
- Lesson 48 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 | 525 | This page |
| /k/ | scheme | 79 | See the list |
| /sh/ | machine | 18 | See the list |
Ch words, 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.
Initial position (at the start)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chip | ch·i·p | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chain | ch·ai·n | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 84 |
| chair | ch·air | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 112 |
| cheap | ch·ea·p | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| check | ch·e·ck | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| child | ch·i·l·d | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 72 |
| chips | ch·i·p·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chose | ch·o_e·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 56 |
| chance | ch·a·n·c·e | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 60 |
| change | ch·a·n·g·e | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 68 |
| charge | ch·ar·g·e | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 77 |
| checks | ch·e·ck·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| choice | ch·oi·c·e | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 95 |
| choose | ch·oo·s·e | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 90 |
| church | ch·ur·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 81 |
| changed | ch·a·n·g·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 68 |
| charged | ch·ar·g·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 77 |
| checked | ch·e·ck·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 64 |
| chaos | ch·a·o·s | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| chosen | ch·o·s·e·n | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 68 |
| chances | ch·a·n·c·e·s | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 60 |
| changes | ch·a·n·g·e·s | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 68 |
| channel | ch·a·nn·e·l | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 67b |
| chapter | ch·a·p·t·er | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 80 |
| charges | ch·ar·g·e·s | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 77 |
| cheaper | ch·ea·p·er | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| chooses | ch·oo·s·e·s | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 90 |
| chairman | ch·air·m·a·n | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 112 |
| changing | ch·a·n·g·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 109 |
| channels | ch·a·nn·e·l·s | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 67b |
| charging | ch·ar·g·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 109 |
| cheapest | ch·ea·p·e·s·t | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| checking | ch·e·ck·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 65 |
| children | ch·i·l·d·r·e·n | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 67b |
| choosing | ch·oo·s·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 109 |
| chemical | ch·e·m·i·c·a·l | 3 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| character | ch·a·r·a·c·t·er | 3 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| characters | ch·a·r·a·c·t·er·s | 3 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| chap | ch·a·p | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chat | ch·a·t | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chew | ch·ew | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 91 |
| chop | ch·o·p | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chalk | ch·a·l·k | 1 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| chaps | ch·a·p·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| charm | ch·ar·m | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 77 |
| chart | ch·ar·t | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 77 |
| chase | ch·a_e·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 54 |
| chats | ch·a·t·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| cheat | ch·ea·t | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| cheek | ch·ee·k | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| cheer | ch·eer | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 113 |
| chess | ch·e·ss | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chest | ch·e·s·t | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chews | ch·ew·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 91 |
| chief | ch·ie·f | 1 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| chops | ch·o·p·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chord | ch·or·d | 1 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| chuck | ch·u·ck | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| chunk | ch·u·n·k | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 52 |
| chains | ch·ai·n·s | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 84 |
Medial position (in the middle)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| scheme | s·ch·e_e·m | 1 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| school | s·ch·oo·l | 1 | /k/ | Lesson 41c (heart word) |
| reached | r·ea·ch·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| schools | s·ch·oo·l·s | 1 | /k/ | Lesson 41c |
| touched | t·ou·ch·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| searched | s·ear·ch·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 113 |
| inches | i·n·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 63 |
| achieve | a·ch·ie·v·e | 2 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| machine | m·a·ch·i·n·e | 2 | /sh/ | Not in the sequence |
| reaches | r·ea·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| teacher | t·ea·ch·er | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| teaches | t·ea·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| touches | t·ou·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| achieved | a·ch·ie·v·ed | 2 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| achieves | a·ch·ie·v·e·s | 2 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| attached | a·tt·a·ch·ed | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 68 |
| branches | b·r·a·n·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 63 |
| exchange | e·x·ch·a·n·g·e | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 68 |
| machines | m·a·ch·i·n·e·s | 2 | /sh/ | Not in the sequence |
| purchase | p·ur·ch·a·s·e | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 81 |
| reaching | r·ea·ch·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| searches | s·ear·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 113 |
| teaching | t·ea·ch·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| touching | t·ou·ch·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| searching | s·ear·ch·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 113 |
| technique | t·e·ch·n·i·qu·e | 2 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| techniques | t·e·ch·n·i·qu·e·s | 2 | /k/ | Not in the sequence |
| mechanic | m·e·ch·a·n·i·c | 3 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| achieving | a·ch·ie·v·i·ng | 3 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| attaching | a·tt·a·ch·i·ng | 3 | /ch/ | Lesson 68 |
| mechanics | m·e·ch·a·n·i·c·s | 3 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| technical | t·e·ch·n·i·c·a·l | 3 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| technology | t·e·ch·n·o·l·o·g·y | 4 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| pinched | p·i·n·ch·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 64 |
| punched | p·u·n·ch·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 64 |
| schemes | s·ch·e_e·m·s | 1 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| crunched | c·r·u·n·ch·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 64 |
| launched | l·au·n·ch·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 93 |
| preached | p·r·ea·ch·ed | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| echo | e·ch·o | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| echoed | e·ch·o·ed | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| echoes | e·ch·oe·s | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| richer | r·i·ch·er | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 80 |
| archive | ar·ch·i_e·v | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| punches | p·u·n·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 63 |
| richest | r·i·ch·e·s·t | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 67b |
| scholar | s·ch·o·l·ar | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| archived | ar·ch·i_e·v·d | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| archives | ar·ch·i_e·v·s | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| crunches | c·r·u·n·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 63 |
| detached | d·e·t·a·ch·ed | 2 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| headache | h·ea·d·a·ch·e | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| launches | l·au·n·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 93 |
| pinching | p·i·n·ch·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 65 |
| preaches | p·r·ea·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| punching | p·u·n·ch·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 65 |
| scholars | s·ch·o·l·ar·s | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| speeches | s·p·ee·ch·es | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| teachers | t·ea·ch·er·s | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| crunching | c·r·u·n·ch·i·ng | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 65 |
Final position (at the end)
| Word | Spelling units | Syllables | Sound | Readable after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| each | ea·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| inch | i·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| much | m·u·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| such | s·u·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| lunch | l·u·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| march | m·ar·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 77 |
| reach | r·ea·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| teach | t·ea·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| touch | t·ou·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| which | wh·i·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 50 |
| branch | b·r·a·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| breach | b·r·ea·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| french | f·r·e·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| search | s·ear·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 113 |
| speech | s·p·ee·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| attach | a·tt·a·ch | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 68 |
| approach | a·pp·r·oa·ch | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 86 |
| research | r·e·s·ear·ch | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 113 |
| arch | ar·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 77 |
| rich | r·i·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| beach | b·ea·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| bench | b·e·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| bunch | b·u·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| coach | c·oa·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 86 |
| pinch | p·i·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| punch | p·u·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| vouch | v·ou·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 96 |
| crunch | c·r·u·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| launch | l·au·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 93 |
| preach | p·r·ea·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| detach | d·e·t·a·ch | 2 | /ch/ | Not in the sequence |
| monarch | m·o·n·ar·ch | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| stomach | s·t·o·m·a·ch | 2 | /k/ | Lesson 118 |
| sandwich | s·a·n·d·w·i·ch | 2 | /ch/ | Lesson 67b |
| ouch | ou·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 96 |
| beech | b·ee·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| belch | b·e·l·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| birch | b·ir·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 81 |
| cinch | c·i·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 117 |
| couch | c·ou·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 96 |
| filch | f·i·l·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| finch | f·i·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| gulch | g·u·l·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| hunch | h·u·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| leech | l·ee·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| lurch | l·ur·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 81 |
| mulch | m·u·l·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| munch | m·u·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| parch | p·ar·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 77 |
| peach | p·ea·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
| perch | p·er·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 80 |
| poach | p·oa·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 86 |
| porch | p·or·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 78 |
| pouch | p·ou·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 96 |
| ranch | r·a·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| roach | r·oa·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 86 |
| torch | t·or·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 78 |
| winch | w·i·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| blanch | b·l·a·n·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 48 |
| bleach | b·l·ea·ch | 1 | /ch/ | Lesson 85 |
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.
How do you teach ch words?
Teach /ch/ first and alone. "C and h together say /ch/, like a sneeze: ah-choo." Read initial ch (chip, chop, chin), then final ch after two consonants or a vowel team (lunch, bench, peach). Keep /k/ and /sh/ words out of early practice entirely. When the student meets them, usually in science words and French borrowings, show them the split on this page: the /ch/ words outnumber the others by far.
What mistake do students make with ch words?
Students mix up ch and sh, both reading and spelling. Chip and ship differ only in how the lips move. Have the student look in a mirror: /ch/ starts with a stop, like /t/ then /sh/. A useful check: "Can you hold it? /sh/ you can hold; /ch/ pops."
Where do ch words come in the sequence?
Ch /ch/ usually comes after sh and th in the digraph unit. The /k/ and /sh/ sounds of ch are taught much later, often alongside other spellings borrowed from Greek and French. In the sequence we use, the pattern is taught in Lesson 48.
Exceptions worth knowing
After a single short vowel at the end of a word, /ch/ is usually spelled tch (match, catch). Much, such, rich and which break that rule. Ch for /k/ is typical of Greek words (school, echo, character), and ch for /sh/ of French ones (chef, machine).
Decodable sentences
Every word in these sentences can be read at Lesson 48 or earlier, or is a heart word taught by then.
- The chick is on the bench.
- Mom had a chat at lunch.
- Can you chop the chips?
Questions people ask
What are 5 ch words?
Is ch a digraph or a blend?
What sounds can ch make?
When can a student read ch words?
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.