Pronunciation of the letters“ch

Rule

- In English the letters “ch” hare pronounced in three ways:

a. /k/ when the word it contains has Greek or Italian origins. This category covers most scientific and technical items.
Examples: chloroform, chloride.

b. /tʃ/ when the word it contains is derived from Old/Middle Ages English or from Latin.
Examples: coach, bunch.

c. /ʃ/ when the word it contains is borrowed from French.
Examples: chagrin, chivalry.

Practice:

1. Classify the following words according to the pronunciation of the letters “ch”:
chaos, character, charisma, arch, school, archaeology, archaism, archangel, archbishop, cheese, archdeacon, Chevrolet, archduke, archery.

/k/ /tʃ/ /ʃ/


2. Classify the following words according to the pronunciation of the letters “ch”:
artichoke, alchemy, epoch, archipelago, chlorophyll, chloroform, chagrin, chivalry, chemistry, chaotic.

/k/ /tʃ/ /ʃ/


3. Classify the following words according to the pronunciation of the letters “ch”:
chair, chamois, chameleon, change, chivalry, channel, architecture, archive, archway, coach, church, chancellor .

/k/ /tʃ/ /ʃ/


Keys:
1.

/k/
chaos
character
charisma
school
archaeology
archaism
archangel
/tʃ/

arch
archbishop
cheese
archdeacon
archduke
archery
/ʃ/

Chevrolet

2.
/k/
alchemy
epoch
archipelago
chlorophyll
chloroform
chemistry
chaotic
/tʃ/

artichoke

/ʃ/

chagrin


3.
k/
chameleon
architecture
archive
tʃ/

chair
change
channel
archway
coach
church
chancellor
/ʃ/
chamois
chivalry