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Glite Dictionary
🔗 A graph with repeats 🔤 Letters for one sound
multigraph

multigraph

7.7
A group of two or more letters that represent one sound in a word
  • noun
  • /ˈmʌltɪˌɡræf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : multigrafo
  • The German language uses the multigraph 'sch' to represent the 'sh' sound.

Examples

  • The English language contains several multigraphs, such as 'th' in 'think' and 'sh' in 'ship'.

  • Linguists study how a multigraph can simplify the spelling of certain words.

  • In the word 'scholar', the letters 'sch' form a multigraph representing a single sound.

  • Many languages use multigraphs to represent unique sounds.

  • What is an example of a multigraph?

  • In the word 'photo', the letters 'ph' form a multigraph that represents a single sound.

  • To help learners with pronunciation, teachers often highlight multigraphs in spelling lessons.

Synonyms

phonogram
vsmultigraph
  • Specialized
8.9

A sign that stands for a sound, syllable, or word

is a specific case of that symbol made of multiple letters for one sound
grapheme
vsmultigraph
  • Specialized
8.1

A written sign such as a letter that shows a sound or meaning

is made of two or more letters functioning together as one sound

Surface Forms

multigraph singular
multigraphs plural

Morphology

multigraph = graph (opaque) = multi + graph

Although multi- clearly means 'many', the orthographic sense of graph is specialized and the full meaning 'two or more letters representing one sound' is not directly guessable for average learners.

Etymology

Multigraph comes from multi- 'many' and -graph 'to write' or 'written sign'. So a multigraph is literally 'many letters written together', which helps you remember it is a group of letters that stand for one sound.