Pronunciation of “S”

Pronunciation

• Most words ending in “s” are pronounced /s/

kids, toys, games, eats, plays, ….

• Some words have a different pronunciation /iz/

sandwiches, kisses, buses, watches, …

Pronunciation 1

• Is the “s” pronounced /s/?

Not alwaysThe “s” can be pronounced two ways. We say /s/ after voiceless consonants /f, p, t, k, θ/ and all vowels.

cups

baths

Pronunciation of 2

• We say /z/ after a voiced consonant /b, d, g, g, l, m, n, ŋ, r, v, d/

• beds• games

Pronunciation

•How can I remember which consonants are voiced and which ones are voiceless?

Pronunciation

• Place your hand on your throat. If a consonant is voiced, you will feel the vibration of your voice. If a consonant is voiceless, you will feel no vibration.

Pronunciation of 3

• We add the sound /iz/ after words whose final sound is /s, z, tʃ, dʒ and x/

• Bus

• Wish

• Watch

• Fox

Buses

Wishes

Watches

foxes

Exercises

• Decide the pronunciation of the following words:

sky

choose

cross

phone

stop

teach

friend

language

dish

box

read

watch

parent

book

nephew

look

Check your answers

/s/ /z/ /iz/

stops

parents

books

looks

skies

phones

friends

nephews

dishes teaches

boxes languages

watches

chooses

crosses