Background

Blends are two or three consonants grouped together, with each letter keeping its own sound. Most often, the three-letter s-blends scr, spl, spr, squ, and str are found only in the initial position in words as in scrap, splash, spray, squish, and straw. Pronunciation of three-letter blends is tricky because there are three consecutive consonant sounds together that are difficult to blend. They are also difficult to spell because the middle consonant is often subtle when pronounced.