How many graphemes are in the word "board"?

In the word "board," there are four distinct graphemes. A grapheme is the smallest unit of written language that represents a sound in a word.

Breaking down "board," we can identify its components:

• The sounds represented by the graphemes are 'b,' 'oa,' 'r,' and 'd.'

• The 'b' represents the /b/ sound.

• The combination 'oa' represents the /ɔː/ sound found in the vowel sounds of "board."

• The 'r' represents the /r/ sound.

• Lastly, 'd' represents the /d/ sound.

While 'oa' is a digraph, it functions as a single grapheme in this context. Therefore, counting the distinct graphemes yields a total of four: b, oa, r, and d. This analysis clarifies how to accurately identify the number of graphemes in a given word, contributing to a deeper understanding of phonemic awareness and literacy skills.