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Consonant

S

The S sound is a voiceless alveolar fricative. It is made by forcing air through a narrow channel formed by the tip of the tongue and the alveolar ridge.

s
Phonetic System (Merriam-Webster):s

Watch the Sound

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Example Words

Main Example

see
Phonetic: /si/

Common Words

see/si/
say/seɪ/
sun/sʌn/
this/ðɪs/
house/haʊs/
pass/pæs/
city/ˈsɪti/

Minimal Pairs

Listen and compare similar sounds

s
sip
/sɪp/
Compare with
S
zip
/zɪp/
s
bus
/bʌs/
Compare with
B
buzz
/bʌz/
s
sing
/sɪŋ/
Compare with
S
thing
/θɪŋ/
s
sink
/sɪŋk/
Compare with
S
think
/θɪŋk/

Tongue Twister

She sells seashells by the seashore.

Try it yourself

Practice saying this tongue twister

Technical Details

  • CategoryConsonant
  • VoicingVoiceless
  • Place of ArticulationAlveolar
  • Manner of ArticulationFricative
  • Mouth PositionBring the tip or blade of your tongue close to the alveolar ridge (the bumpy part behind your upper front teeth), but don't touch it. Create a narrow groove in the center of your tongue. Force air through this channel. Your vocal cords should not vibrate.