The ph sound in English: /f/
IPA: /f/ · Closest Arabic sound: حرف الفاء (ف) (فْ)
The ph sound explained
ph is pronounced 'f' exactly like f. It appears in words of Greek origin such as phone, photo and elephant.
Two letters, one sound (digraphs): Two neighbouring letters make one new sound, such as sh, ch and th.
Words with ph
Tap a word to hear it and repeat it with your child
Tip for parents and teachers
Write f and ph on two cards and let your child pick the right spelling for phone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pronounce ph in English?
ph is pronounced 'f' exactly like f. It appears in words of Greek origin such as phone, photo and elephant. The sound is /f/, closest to the Arabic حرف الفاء (ف).
Which words have ph?
Phone (هاتف), Photo (صورة), Elephant (فيل), Dolphin (دلفين), Alphabet (أبجدية), Graph (رسم بياني).
What is the difference between a digraph and a blend?
In a digraph (like sh and ch) the two letters make one new sound; in a blend (like st and bl) each letter keeps its own sound and they are said quickly one after the other.