ch sound

Core Rule

The letter combination ch most commonly represents the affricate /tʃ/, as in chair. Phonetically, it is a stop-plus-fricative sequence: /t/ → /ʃ/. However, English also preserves historical pronunciations where ch sounds like /k/ (Greek origin) or /ʃ/ (French origin).

Articulation Guide

To produce /tʃ/, place the tongue tip against the alveolar ridge, briefly stop the airflow, then release it into a fricative while slightly rounding the lips. The sound must be crisp; do not glide directly into /ʃ/.

Word Analysis

• exchange /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/: the ch clearly forms /tʃ/, matching the sound in change.
• merchant /ˈmɜːrtʃənt/: ch again equals /tʃ/; maintain clarity after the r-colored vowel.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Do not overgeneralize. In chorus or chemistry, ch = /k/. In chef or machine, ch = /ʃ/. Word origin and spelling patterns are reliable predictors.