Split digraphs: a-e, i-e, o-e, u-e and e-e explained

In “cake”, the “a” and the “e” work together to make one sound, even though the “k” sits between them. That is a split digraph. Children usually meet them in Year 1, and they often cause a wobble at first. This guide explains what they are, gives examples of each, and shows how to practise them.

What a split digraph is

A digraph is two letters that make one sound, like “sh” or “ai”. In a split digraph, the two letters are split up by another letter. The vowel at the start and the “e” at the end make one long vowel sound together.

• In “cap”, the “a” is short, as in “apple”.
• In “cape”, the “a” and “e” make one sound, the “ai” in “rain”. The “e” makes no sound of its own.

Some people call this “magic e”. Many schools now say “split digraph” instead, because it explains what is really happening: two letters making one sound. Ask your child’s teacher which words they use, and use the same ones at home.

The five split digraphs

“e-e” is the least common, so your child will see it less often. “u-e” has two sounds: “yoo” in “cube” and “tune”, and “oo” in “rule” and “flute”. Both are right.

How to teach the pattern

Short pairs of words show the change most clearly. Write the first word, read it, then add an “e” and read it again.

• cap, cape
• pin, pine
• hop, hope
• cub, cube
• rid, ride
• not, note

Your child will soon notice that adding the “e” changes the vowel sound, while the other sounds stay the same. You can draw a little bridge from the vowel to the “e” to show that they belong together.

How the phonics check uses them

Split digraphs are part of Phase 5, so they appear in the harder second section of the Phonics Screening Check. They can appear in real words, such as “stone”, and in alien words, such as “blope” or “trime”. With an alien word, your child cannot recognise it by sight. They have to spot the split digraph and read the vowel as its long sound. Our guide to the Phonics Screening Check explains the two sections.

Common mix-ups

• Reading the short vowel. “hope” becomes “hop”. Ask your child to look at the end of the word for an “e” before they start.
• Saying the “e”. “cake” becomes “cak-e”. Remind them the “e” is silent and works with the vowel.
• Words that break the pattern. “have”, “give”, “love”, “come” and “some” look like split digraphs but are not read that way. They are tricky words. Our guide to tricky words in Year 1 covers them.
• Mixing up spellings. “rain”, “play” and “cake” all have the same sound, spelled three ways. That is normal, and it is what Phase 5 is all about. Our guide to the phonics phases explains more.

Split digraphs in books

Once your child knows the pattern, they will start to notice split digraphs everywhere: in “time”, “home”, “like” and “make”. When you read together and your child reads a short vowel by mistake, point to the “e” at the end and let them try again. A small nudge like this, often, is how the pattern sticks.

Games to practise

• Add the e. Write “cap”, “pin”, “hop” and “cub”. Your child adds an “e” to each and reads the new word.
• Real or alien? Mix real words like “bike” with alien words like “plome” and “vate”. Your child reads each and says which is real.
• Split digraph hunt. Look for words with a split digraph in a favourite book or on signs outside.
• Sort them. Say words aloud and sort them by sound: “cake” and “rain” together, “bike” and “night” together.

What Xenly does, and what it doesn’t

Split digraphs are part of Xenly Level 7. Creatures grown from a split digraph are rare in Xenly, and they look special, so children often go looking for them. When your child reads a creature’s name, the split digraph grows the creature’s body as one sound, just as it is one sound in the word.

Xenly introduces split digraphs only once your child has reached that level, so they come after the simpler sounds, as in school. It does not teach them for the first time: that is your child’s teacher’s job. See how Xenly works.

Questions parents ask

Is “magic e” wrong?

It is not wrong, and many parents learned it that way. “Split digraph” just describes it more accurately. Use whichever words your child’s school uses.

Why does “u-e” have two sounds?

In some words it sounds like “yoo”, as in “cube”. In others, often after “r”, “l” or “j”, it sounds like “oo”, as in “rule”. Both are correct.

When do children learn split digraphs?

Usually in Year 1, as part of Phase 5.

My child can read “cake” but not “blape”. Why?

“cake” may be a word they know by sight. “blape” makes them read every sound. Keep practising with alien words.

Are there split digraphs with other letters?

The five in this guide are the ones your child needs in Year 1. Other long vowel spellings come later.