English Pronunciation | The Letter S | 5 Ways to Pronounce S in English!

Summary

This video lesson provides an in-depth guide to the pronunciation of the letter 'S' in English, covering its four primary sounds: the 's' sound, the 'z' sound, the 'sh' sound, and the 'zh' sound. It explains how these sounds change in different contexts, such as in singular/plural forms, third-person singular verbs, possessives, and words ending in 's', 'se', or 'sion'. The lesson also highlights common pronunciation pitfalls and includes practical examples and tongue twisters for better mastery. Whether you're a beginner or advanced learner, this video will enhance your understanding of English pronunciation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The letter 'S' is the 19th letter in the English alphabet and has four main pronunciations.
• 😀 The first pronunciation of 'S' is the unvoiced /s/ sound, commonly heard at the beginning, middle, and end of words like 'say,' 'sound,' and 'bus'.
• 😀 In plural nouns and third-person singular verbs, the 'S' sound can be pronounced as /s/ or /z/, depending on the preceding sound.
• 😀 When 'S' follows a voiced sound, it is pronounced as a /z/, as in 'pen' (pens) and 'give' (gives).
• 😀 The second pronunciation of 'S' is the voiced /z/ sound, often found in words like 'shoes,' 'bugs,' and 'comes'.
• 😀 'S' can also be pronounced as /ʃ/ (sh sound) when followed by 'U' or in words ending with 'sion' or 'sial,' like 'sure,' 'sugar,' and 'dimension.'
• 😀 The 'S' sound can also be pronounced as /ʒ/ (zh sound) in words like 'vision' and 'decision.'
• 😀 The letter 'S' can be silent in certain words like 'aisle,' 'debris,' and place names like 'Arkansas' and 'Illinois.'
• 😀 Short words such as 'as,' 'his,' 'does,' and 'was' typically pronounce 'S' as a /z/ sound.
• 😀 Tongue twisters are excellent for practicing the different 'S' sounds, such as 'she sells seashells by the seashore' and 'Susan and Simon’s sock shop surely doesn’t sell shirts.'

Q & A

What are the four main ways the letter 'S' is pronounced in English?

The four main pronunciations of the letter 'S' are: /s/ (voiceless), /z/ (voiced), /ʃ/ (sh sound), and /ʒ/ (zh sound), with some instances where the 'S' is silent.

When is the letter 'S' pronounced as /s/ in English?

The letter 'S' is pronounced as /s/ in words where it appears at the beginning, middle, or end of a word, such as 'say', 'summer', 'sound', and 'bus'. It’s also used in plural forms where the final sound is voiceless, such as 'chief' becoming 'chiefs'.

Can the letter 'S' have the same pronunciation when there are two 'S's in a word?

Yes, the letter 'S' is pronounced the same way whether it appears as one 'S' or two in the middle of a word. For example, 'message' and 'possible' both have the /s/ sound.

How is the letter 'S' pronounced in the third-person singular present tense?

In the third-person singular present tense, the letter 'S' is pronounced as /s/ if the verb ends in a voiceless sound (e.g., 'laugh' becomes 'laughs'), and as /z/ if the verb ends in a voiced sound (e.g., 'drive' becomes 'drives').

What is the rule for pronouncing 'S' in possessives?

In possessive forms, if a word ends in a voiceless sound (like 'Matt'), the possessive 'S' is pronounced /s/ (e.g., 'Matt's bike'). If the word ends in a voiced sound (like 'Germany'), the possessive 'S' is pronounced /z/ (e.g., 'Germany's people').

What happens to the pronunciation of 'S' in small words like 'is' or 'his'?

In small words like 'is', 'his', 'does', and 'was', the letter 'S' is pronounced as /z/, not /s/. For example, 'is' should be pronounced as /ɪz/, not /ɪs/.

When is the letter 'S' pronounced as /ʃ/ (sh sound)?

The letter 'S' is pronounced as /ʃ/ (sh sound) when it is followed by 'u' in words like 'sure' and 'sugar', or in words ending with 'sion' or 'sial', such as 'dimension' and 'extension'.

Are there any words in English where the letter 'S' is silent?

Yes, there are a few words in English where the letter 'S' is silent. Examples include 'aisle', 'isle', 'debris', and 'rendezvous'.

How do you pronounce 'S' when it appears in combination with other consonants, like 'P' or 'C'?

When 'S' combines with 'P', as in 'Psalm' or 'psychology', the 'P' is silent, and only the 'S' is pronounced. When 'S' combines with 'C', the pronunciation depends on the word: it can sound like /s/ in 'science' and 'scissors', /ʃ/ in 'conscience', or /k/ in 'school'.

How can tongue twisters help in mastering the pronunciation of the letter 'S'?

Tongue twisters are great for practicing the various pronunciations of 'S' in different contexts. For example, 'she sells seashells by the seashore' covers the /s/, /z/, and /ʃ/ sounds, helping learners improve their fluency and precision in pronunciation.