digram: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialised / Technical
Quick answer
What does “digram” mean?
A sequence of two letters that represents a single speech sound, such as "ph" for /f/ or "sh" for /ʃ/.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sequence of two letters that represents a single speech sound, such as "ph" for /f/ or "sh" for /ʃ/.
In cryptography, a pair of letters treated as a single unit in encryption algorithms; in computing, a two-character sequence used in data analysis or text processing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning. 'Digraph' is preferred in both varieties for linguistic contexts.
Connotations
Neutral technical term. Slightly more computational/mathematical connotation than 'digraph'.
Frequency
Low frequency in general use; primarily found in academic, cryptographic, or computational linguistics texts.
Grammar
How to Use “digram” in a Sentence
analyse + [the] + digram + [frequency]substitute + [a] + digram + [with]represent + [a] + sound + [as a] + digramVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “digram” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The digram 'th' is among the most frequent in English texts.
- Early cryptanalysis often relied on counting digram frequencies.
American English
- In the cipher, each digram was replaced with a symbol.
- The program analyses digram distribution to identify the language.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in data security contexts discussing encryption.
Academic
Used in linguistics, cryptography, and computational text analysis.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in cryptography for letter pairs in cipher analysis; used in some linguistic subfields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “digram”
- Confusing 'digram' with 'diagram'.
- Using 'digram' when 'digraph' is the standard linguistic term.
- Pronouncing it /ˈdɪɡ.rəm/ instead of /ˈdaɪ.ɡræm/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In many contexts, they are used interchangeably. However, 'digraph' is the dominant term in linguistics for two letters representing one sound (e.g., 'ch', 'sh'). 'Digram' can have a broader or more statistical use, referring to any pair of letters, and is common in cryptography and computing.
No, it is a specialised, low-frequency term. The average English speaker is much more likely to encounter and use the word 'digraph'.
Yes. In the word 'stop', the letters 'st' form a digram (a pair of letters). However, they do not form a digraph because 's' and 't' each represent their own separate sounds (/s/ and /t/). A digraph like 'ph' in 'phone' represents a single sound (/f/).
The frequency of certain digrams (like 'th', 'er', 'an' in English) is highly predictable in a language. Analyzing digram frequencies in an encrypted message is a fundamental technique (frequency analysis) for breaking classical substitution ciphers.
A sequence of two letters that represents a single speech sound, such as "ph" for /f/ or "sh" for /ʃ/.
Digram is usually specialised / technical in register.
Digram: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdaɪ.ɡræm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdaɪ.ɡræm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'DI' (two) + 'GRAM' (letter/writing) = two letters written as one unit.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PAIR WORKING AS ONE UNIT (like a team of two representing a single entity).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'digram' most specifically and commonly used?