Consonant Clusters
Consonant clusters consist of more than one consonant in a row.
- However, remember that SH and CH are not clusters: they represent one consonant, not two.
There is a difference between clusters you can see in the spelling, and ones you can hear. Some clusters are spelled, and also audible. In contrast, other clusters audible, but not spelled. Finally, clusters such as KW sound like single consonants, not two. All three types are described below.
Clusters that are spelled and also audible
Clusters that you can both see in the spelling and hear include
- Clusters beginning with S or SH, such as SP, ST, SCH, SK, SHP, SHT, SHCH, SHSH, SHK, SKW, SHTW, and SHKW.
- Clusters beginning with H, such as HP, HT, HCH, HK, HY, and HW.
Clusters that are audible, but not spelled
Some clusters are not obvious from the spelling, even though you can hear a cluster.
- For example, although there are no clusters in the spelling of the word MAAMAAPISUN
the word is pronounced as MAA-MAAP-SUN: the spelling PIS sounds like a cluster (PS).
Such clusters happen when I, U, or A are silent. See the page on clusters resulting from silent vowels for details.
Spelled clusters which sound like single consonants
Finally, sometimes you will see clusters in the spelling of a word, but you will not hear a consonant cluster.
- For example, although there is a cluster, PW, at the beginning of the word PWAANISH , you can only hear a P, not a PW.
The W is silent in many clusters ending with W, including KW, TW, SHW. etc.