CH words include chair, cheese, chicken, teacher, kitchen, beach and watch. For speech practice, sort by the /tʃ/ sound, not only the letters: chef starts with SH and chorus starts with K. Use the beginning, middle and ending lists below, then try a short phrase.
How does the CH sound work?
The CH sound begins with a brief stop and releases into friction. SH can continue as a long air sound; CH has a short beginning and release. Compare chip with ship or chew with shoe. These are listening examples, not a prescription for a particular treatment method.
CH at the beginning
chair, cheese, chip, chin, chicken, cherry, chalk, chop, chain, chase, cheek, cheer, check, chest, child.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| chair | my chair |
| cheese | yellow cheese |
| chicken | a little chicken |
| chalk | draw with chalk |
CH in the middle
teacher, kitchen, ketchup, catcher, watching, peaches, beaches, coaches, lunchbox, armchair.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| teacher | my teacher |
| kitchen | in the kitchen |
| ketchup | red ketchup |
| lunchbox | a full lunchbox |
CH at the end
beach, peach, reach, teach, each, watch, catch, match, patch, hatch, lunch, bench, couch, ouch, coach.
| Word | Short phrase |
|---|---|
| peach | a ripe peach |
| catch | catch the ball |
| bench | sit on the bench |
| lunch | eat lunch |
A short CH practice activity
Make a pretend lunch counter with a chair, cheese and a peach. Let the child choose an item, then model a phrase such as "a ripe peach" or "my chair." Later, look for the same word in a book or normal conversation.
- Choose two or three useful words from one group.
- Say each word naturally while sharing the object, picture or activity.
- Offer a turn without requiring a repetition. Use a short phrase if that fits the current goal.
- Write down what happened and stop if the activity becomes frustrating.
These are original home-activity ideas. If your child has an SLP, use the word targets and practice approach they recommend.
What age guidance applies?
The Crowe and McLeod review summarized in ASHA's chart places CH in the 4-year acquisition band. The chart describes groups of children; an assessment considers more than one sound or age.
Read the acquisition chart and its limitations. ASHA's public speech-sound guidance also explains why language and dialect differences matter. If you are concerned about speech or communication, you can request an evaluation without waiting for a birthday.
More word lists and activities
Use the speech word-list directory, three-syllable words and four-syllable words to choose another language or speech activity. Our free printable library has more resources. For a specific speech goal, keep the target sound separate from a syllable-count activity.
Frequently asked questions
Do all words spelled CH use the CH sound?
No. Chair and cheese use /tʃ/, chef uses SH, and chorus uses K. Speech practice lists should follow the spoken sound.
What are CH words at the end?
Examples include beach, peach, reach, watch, catch, match, lunch, bench and couch.
How are CH and SH different?
CH has a brief stop before its release; SH is a continuing friction sound. Chip and ship are a useful pair for hearing the difference.
About this word list
Little Words Editorial curated the words and phrases and updated this page September 6, 2026. Pronunciations reflect the English examples described above. The linked sources support the developmental context; the word lists and activities are editorial resources. See our editorial standards.