What is a consonant blend?

A consonant blend refers to a situation in which two or more consonants are placed next to each other in a word, and each consonant retains its individual sound. This means that when pronouncing the blend, you can distinctly hear the sounds of each of the consonants involved. For example, in the word "stop," both the 's' and the 't' sounds are clearly heard when saying the word.

This characteristic differentiates consonant blends from other phonetic combinations. For instance, a single sound made by two consonants, which might suggest they are combined into one sound, does not accurately capture the essence of a consonant blend.

Understanding consonant blends is essential for teaching reading and phonics, as it helps students decode words more effectively by recognizing these combinations and hearing the individual sounds that make them up. Thus, the correct identification of a consonant blend as a combination where each sound is still clearly articulated is crucial for literacy development.