Phonics: Consonant Blends
A consonant blend is when two or three consonants come together and you can hear each sound — like bl in blue or st in stop.
What You Need to Know
A consonant blend is two or three consonants next to each other where you can still hear each letter's sound. Blends can be at the beginning of a word (like blend, stop) or at the end (like lift, bench). Practising blends helps you read and spell many more words!
Key Concepts
L-blends
bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl
R-blends
br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr
S-blends
sc, sk, sl, sm, sn, sp, st, sw
End blends
nd, nt, st, lk, mp, nk
bl
blue, black, blend, blow
cl
clap, clock, cloud, clown
st
stop, star, step, stone
tr
tree, truck, trip, train
Key Vocabulary
Consonant Blend
Two or three consonants together where you can hear each sound, e.g. fl in fly.
Consonant
A letter that is not a vowel — all letters except a, e, i, o, u are consonants.
Initial Blend
A blend at the beginning of a word, e.g. br in bread, sp in spin.
Final Blend
A blend at the end of a word, e.g. nd in sand, mp in jump.
Knowledge Check
Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.
Question 1
Which word starts with the bl blend?
Question 2
What blend does the word "stop" start with?
Question 3
Which of these words has a blend at the end?
Question 4
Complete the word: "_ree" — What blend goes at the start?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●A consonant blend is two or three consonants where you hear each sound (e.g. bl, st, tr).
- ●Blends can be at the beginning (initial) or end (final) of a word.
- ●Common blends: bl, cl, fl, st, tr, br, sp, gr, nd, mp.
- ●Say words slowly to hear each sound in a blend.