Which term describes blending phonemes to form words?

• A. Decoding
• B. Phonology
• C. Orthography
• D. Blending

Answer: (D)

Blending phonemes to form words is the act of putting together individual sounds to say a whole word. For example, hearing /b/ /a/ /t/ and blending them to say “bat” shows this skill in action. This specific ability focuses on how sounds come together to create spoken words, which is a key part of phonemic awareness.

Decoding, while related, is broader: it involves using letter-sound relationships to read a word and often includes blending as one step, but it also encompasses applying spelling patterns and other strategies. Phonology is about the sound system of a language—the rules and patterns of sounds—rather than the act of combining sounds. Orthography refers to the writing system and spelling, not the blending of sounds to form spoken words.