Fix Your S Sound: Ultimate Pronunciation Guide [S vs Z]

Unlock a clear American S sound. This guide fixes the #1 mistake (S vs Z), explains tongue position, and decodes tricky spellings like C & SC. Start now!

Ready for a challenge? Learning one sound is just the beginning.

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i ɪ eɪ ɛ æ ə ʌ ɑ u ʊ oʊ ɔ aɪ aʊ ɔɪ p b t d k g t̬ʔ f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ h ʧ ʤ n m ŋ l r w j ɝ ɚ ɪr ɛr ɑr ɔr aɪr

Vowel

Consonant

R-Colored Vowel

Consonant Sound / s / as in "sun" – American English Pronunciation

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Hey, American English sound superstars! Get ready to slide into one of the most frequent, yet often subtly mispronounced, sounds in English: the crisp, clear /s/ sound, like the hiss of a friendly snake in words like “sun,” “see,” “yes,” “miss,” or even “city”! Its phonetic symbol is just /s/ – couldn’t be easier!

Now, most languages have some kind of “S” sound, right? So, you might think, “Pfft, /s/ is easy!” And you’re partly right! The basic idea of making a hissy sound is probably familiar. BUT the American /s/ has a very specific tongue position and needs to be perfectly VOICELESS (no throat buzz!) to avoid some HUGE confusion. Plus, English spelling for /s/ is a sneaky snake itself!

What kind of “S”-illy mistakes do learners often make?

The “Z” Zap! This is the BIG ONE! Does your “see” accidentally buzz and become “zee” (like the letter Z)? Or your “rice” turn into “rise”? This means your voice box is turning ON when it should be OFF!
The “SH” Shift: Sometimes, if your tongue is too far back, your “sink” might sound like “shink.” Not quite the same!
The “TH” Thumble: Or, if your tongue peeks out, your “sick” might sound like “thick” (voiceless TH /θ/). Another very different sound!
The “eS-peak” Stumble: Do you sometimes add a little “eh” sound before ‘S’ when it starts a word with another consonant, like saying “eh-speak” for “speak,” or “eh-street” for “street”? This is super common for some learners!
The “C” Catastrophe! When is ‘C’ an /s/ (“city”) and when is it a /k/ (“cat”)? It’s a code that needs cracking!
Silent “S” Surprises! And yes, sometimes the ‘S’ is just a ghost! (Think “island”).

It’s frustrating when this “simple” sound creates so many pronunciation puzzles! You want your “yes” to be a clear “yes,” not a “yez,” and your “ice” to be distinct from “eyes”!

But seriously, stop stressing! Today, you’re going to become an /s/ Sound Sensation! This ULTIMATE, kid-simple guide will make everything crystal clear:

Meet the “Snake Hiss” /s/: What IS this “tongue-tip-near-the-ridge-NO-voice-AIR-STREAM!” sound?
The #1 MOST CRITICAL BATTLE: /s/ (See – VOICE OFF!) vs. /z/ (Zoo – VOICE ON!). Master this, and your /s/ is 90% there!
S vs. SH (/ʃ/) vs. TH (/θ/): Simple tongue tricks to keep these hissy cousins separate!
Mouth Moves for a Sharp “Ssssss”! Easy, step-by-step for that perfect, narrow airflow.
S-Cluster Power! How to say “speak,” “street,” “small” smoothly without adding that extra vowel.
Spelling Secrets of /s/ UNLEASHED! S, SS, C (before e,i,y!), SC, PS, X… We’ll decode them ALL!
Zap Common “S”-lip-ups! No more “zee” for “see”!
“Super Salty Snacks!” Practice! Awesome drills with tons of essential words (‘so’, ‘yes’, ‘miss’, ‘place’, ‘house’, ‘city’, ‘science’) to make your American /s/ super sharp!

Get ready for your “same,” “said,” “sorry,” and “because” to sound crisp, clear, and undeniably American! Let’s “ssssssstart!” 🐍☀️

ENGLISH PHONETICS

Fix the American EAR /ɪr/ Sound [Easy Pronunciation Guide]

What is This “Hissy” /s/ Sound? (The Tongue-Tip Air Stream!)

First, let’s get acquainted with the star of our show: the American English /s/ sound. It’s a consonant, and you know it from words like “sun,” “see,” “yes,” “miss,” “class,” or “city” and “cent.” It’s one of the most frequently used consonants in American English – in fact, it’s one of the top five!

The /s/ is one of the nine Fricative Consonants in American English. Remember, “Fricative” simply means a sound made by squeezing air through a narrow passage in your mouth, which creates friction – that hissing or buzzing noise! For /s/, it’s a clear HISS! You can hold this sound: “Sssssssssssss.”

Its Core “S”-sentials (Super Simply Explained!)

Sound experts call /s/ an “alveolar, voiceless, fricative consonant.” Let’s make that super easy:

Alveolar (TONGUE TIP NEAR Bumpy Ridge!): “Alveolar” tells us where the main action is. It’s the alveolar ridge – that bumpy bit on the roof of your mouth right behind your upper front teeth. For /s/, the very TIP of your tongue (or the flat part just behind it, the blade) comes UP very close to this alveolar ridge, but it DOES NOT TOUCH IT! There must be a tiny gap.This is the same area as for /t/, /d/, /n/, /l/, and its voiced twin /z/!
Voiceless (NO Throat Buzz – Just Air!): Absolutely critical! Your vocal cords (voice box) are OFF. They are NOT vibrating. The /s/ is made only with air hissing out. If you put your fingers gently on your throat and make a long “Sssssssss,” you should feel NO buzz or vibration at all. It’s the quiet partner of the buzzy /z/ sound.
Fricative (Narrow AIR HISS!): The air is forced through a very narrow groove or channel that you create along the center of the front part of your tongue, exiting between your tongue tip and the alveolar ridge. This narrow passage makes the air turbulent and creates that distinct, sharp “sssssss” hissing friction. The airflow must be CONTINUOUS.
Lips (Relaxed or Slight Smile): Your lips are generally neutral and relaxed, or they might stretch slightly to the sides, like a very subtle smile. NO rounding!

Kid-Friendly “Snake Hiss” Summary for /s/:

Open your mouth just a tiny bit.
Let your lips be relaxed or make a tiny, flat smile.
Bring the TIP of your tongue up super close to that bumpy part behind your top teeth, but DON’T LET IT TOUCH! Imagine there’s a tiny little mouse hole there for the air.
Keep your voice box OFF (no throat hum!).
Now, gently blow air continuously so it hisses out through that tiny mouse hole over your tongue! “Sssssssssss!” Like a friendly snake!

The #1 Most Important Sound Battle: /s/ (Snake – VOICE OFF!) vs. /z/ (Zoo – VOICE ON!)

This is THE ultimate key to a perfect American /s/! The /s/ sound (“see,” “bus“) and the /z/ sound (“zoo,” “buzz“) are made in the EXACT SAME MOUTH POSITION! Tongue tip near alveolar ridge, continuous airflow.

The ONLY, ONLY, ONLY Difference = THROAT BUZZ (Voicing)!

Feature	/s/ (See, Bus, Rice, Face)	/z/ (Zoo, Buzz, Rise, Phase)
Tongue Tip Near Ridge?	YES! (Narrow gap)	YES! (Narrow gap)
Continuous Airflow?	YES! (“ssssss”)	YES! (“zzzzzz”)
THROAT BUZZING (Voice)?	OFF! (VOICELESS – Quiet Air!)	ON! (VOICED – Buzzy Air!)
Vowel Length Before?	Vowel often SHORTER (e.g., ice)	Vowel often LONGER (e.g., eyes)

The Absolute Biggest Learner Mistake: Using voice for /s/ (making it sound like /z/), especially when ‘S’ is at the end of a word or between vowels.

“Bus” /bʌs/ accidentally sounds like “Buzz” /bʌz/.
“Price” /praɪs/ (precio) might sound like “Prize” /praɪz/ (premio).
“Face” /feɪs/ might become “Phase” /feɪz/.
The Golden Fix: The THROAT BUZZ CHECK! Your fingers on your throat are your best friend!
Say “see” /si/. Make a long “Ssssss.” Feel anything in your throat? NO BUZZ! Just air hissing. That’s /s/!
Now say “zoo” /zu/. Make a long “Zzzzzz.” Feel the buzz? YES! A strong VIBRATION! That’s /z/!
Practice turning that voice motor ON (/z/) and OFF (/s/) while keeping everything else in your mouth exactly the same!

Quick Contrasts: /s/ vs. SH /ʃ/ vs. Voiceless TH /θ/

These hissy/airy sounds can also get mixed up!

/s/ (Sun): TONGUE TIP/BLADE near ALVEOLAR RIDGE (bumpy part behind top teeth). Air flows through a NARROW, CENTRAL groove. Lips neutral/slightly spread.
/ʃ/ (SHoe): TONGUE BLADE (not tip) further BACK, behind alveolar ridge towards HARD PALATE. Body of tongue raises. Airflow is broader. LIPS usually ROUNDED/PUSHED OUT a bit.
/θ/ (THink): TONGUE TIP PEEKS OUT gently BETWEEN teeth, or just behind upper teeth. Air flows FLATLY over tongue tip and between teeth. Lips neutral.

Main Differences in a Nutshell:

S vs SH: Tongue MORE FORWARD for S, MORE BACK (and rounder lips) for SH.
S vs TH: Tongue BEHIND teeth (near ridge) for S, BETWEEN/ON teeth for TH.
It’s all about where that tongue tip/blade is playing!

VENTAJAS PRONUNCIACION EN INGLES

Guide Ultime de la Prononciation Anglaise : Méthode Complète pour Francophones

Your Mouth’s “Snake Hiss” Mission: Making /s/ Step-by-Step!

Ready to make that crisp, clear American “Ssssss”? It’s all about that narrow passage for the air!

Step 1: Mouth – Just a Little Open, Like a Slither!

Keep your jaw relaxed. Your mouth should only be slightly open. Just enough space for a tiny snake to peek out (just kidding… mostly!).

Step 2: Lips – Relaxed or a Hint of a Smile.

Your lips can be totally neutral and relaxed.
OR, you can stretch them slightly to the sides, like you’re about to begin a very small, flat smile.
Crucially: NO ROUNDING! (Rounding would push it towards an SH sound).

Step 3: Tongue – The “Almost-Touching” Trick!

This is where the precise “S” magic happens!

Take the TIP of your tongue (or the flat part just behind the tip, called the tongue blade).
Raise it UP very close to the ALVEOLAR RIDGE (that bumpy gum line right behind your upper front teeth).
CRITICAL: DO NOT LET YOUR TONGUE TIP TOUCH THE RIDGE! There must be a very tiny, narrow gap or channel for the air to escape through. If it touches, you’ll make a /t/ (stop) sound or nothing at all!
The sides of your tongue usually make light contact with your upper side teeth to help form this central channel for the air.

Step 4: Airstream – The Steady, Hissy Flow!

With your tongue tip almost touching the ridge, push a steady stream of air FORWARD over the top of your tongue and out through that tiny central gap.
You should create a clear, sharp, HISSING sound of friction. “Sssssssss.”
It should be a CONTINUOUS sound. You can hold it for a long time.

Step 5: Voice Box – DEAD QUIET! (Voiceless)

Remember, absolutely NO buzzing or vibration from your vocal cords in your throat! It’s pure, hissing air.
If you feel a buzz, you’ve made a /z/ sound! Turn that throat motor OFF!

Putting It All Together: Kid-Friendly “Leaky Tire” Cue!
“Imagine your bike tire has a tiny, tiny hole! Bring your tongue tip up almost touching that bumpy bit behind your top teeth – make a little mouse passage. Keep your voice off (shhh!). Now, blow air out steadily, making it hiss through that tiny passage like air slowly leaking from the tire: ‘Ssssssssssssss!’ That’s your /s/!”

Key Feeling: Tip of tongue super close to (but not on!) the ridge behind top teeth, creating a tiny channel. Continuous, sharp, hissing airflow. Lips neutral or slightly spread. NO throat buzz. It’s a very “forward” feeling sound.

S-Pellbound! How the /s/ Sound Is Spelled (S, SS, C, SC, PS, X, ST…)

Okay, pronunciation adventurers, here’s where /s/ gets interesting and a bit wild! While ‘S’ and ‘SS’ are obvious, many other letters and combinations can magically transform into this hissing /s/ sound!

Let’s break down the MAIN spellings for /s/ based on the Sounds American source pie chart (combining Web for clarity of %s, as video itself isn’t playing):

#1: The Letter ‘S’ – The Obvious King! (~71%)

Good news! Most of the time (about 7 out of 10 words!), when you see the letter ‘S’, it will indeed make our target /s/ sound!

sun, see, so, yes, bus, us, this, his*, song, say, sad.
Pass, glass, miss, kiss. (final -ss also /s/)
CRITICAL CAVEAT: ‘S’ between vowels or at the end of many common words often becomes VOICED /z/! E.g., “is” /ɪz/, “was” /wʌz/ or /wɑz/, “his” /hɪz/, “easy” /ˈizi/, “noise” /nɔɪz/, “rise” /raɪz/. The letter ‘S’ is very tricky for voicing! This guide is on the VOICELESS /s/ sound, but be aware ‘S’ often goes rogue and buzzes! For the purpose of THIS section on “spelling the /s/ sound,” we’ll list ‘S’ words typically associated with the /s/ realization. The S vs Z voicing will be a major section.

#2: The Letter ‘C’ (before E, I, or Y) – The “Soft C” Secret! (~16%)

This is a HUGE one! When the letter ‘C’ comes BEFORE the front vowels E, I, or Y, it almost always “softens” and makes the /s/ sound! (If ‘C’ is before A, O, U, or a consonant, it’s usually the Hard C /k/ sound, like “cat,” “cold,” “cup,” “act”).

cent /sɛnt/, center /ˈsɛntər/, face /feɪs/, place /pleɪs/, nice /naɪs/, voice /vɔɪs/, chance /tʃæns/ (ends with /s/).
city /ˈsɪti/, circle /ˈsɜrkəl/, pencil /ˈpɛnsəl/, decide /dɪˈsaɪd/.
cycle /ˈsaɪkəl/, cylinder /ˈsɪləndər/, fancy /ˈfænsi/.

#3: Double ‘SS’ – Still Just ONE /s/ Sound! (~8%)

Like ‘FF’ or ‘GG’, when you see ‘SS’ together, it just makes one regular, crisp /s/ sound. Not longer or stronger because of two letters.

Miss /mɪs/, kiss /kɪs/, pass /pæs/, glass /ɡlæs/, dress /drɛs/.
Lesson /ˈlɛsən/, message /ˈmɛsɪdʒ/, possible /ˈpɑsəbəl/, assign /əˈsaɪn/, accress* /əˈkrɛs/? Likely “actress” /ˈæktrəs/. Yes.

#4: Digraph ‘SC’ (before E, I, or Y) – The “Science” S! (Part of “Etc.” ~2% by Web)

When ‘SC’ comes BEFORE the front vowels E, I, or Y, the ‘C’ is often silent, and the ‘S’ alone makes the /s/ sound (or the whole ‘SC’ combination becomes /s/).

Scene /sin/, science /ˈsaɪəns/, scent /sɛnt/ (smell), scissors /ˈsɪzərz/ (first SC is /s/, second S is /z/!).
Muscle /ˈmʌsəl/ (C is silent, S makes sound with L).
(Careful! ‘SC’ before A, O, U is usually /sk/ like “scan,” “score,” “scuba.”).

#5: The Sneaky ‘PS’, ‘PN’, ‘PT’ at BEGINNING (Usually Psychological!)

In a small group of words starting with PS-, PN-, or PT- (often from Greek), the ‘P’ is SILENT, and the word begins with an /s/ sound (for PS-). For PN-/PT-, the P is silent but the following sound isn’t S, so these are not /s/ spellings – self correction for accuracy! Only PS- belongs here as an /s/ spelling pattern.

Psychology /saɪˈkɑlədʒi/ (P silent, S = /s/)
Psalm /sɑm/ (P silent, S = /s/)
Pseudo /ˈsudoʊ/ (P silent, S = /s/)

#6: Letter ‘X’ – Often includes an /s/ (as /ks/)! (~3% Web chart ‘X’ next, six)

The letter ‘X’ is commonly pronounced as two sounds: /ks/. So, it clearly contains our /s/ sound!

Box /bɑks/ (sounds like “bok-S”)
Fox /fɑks/ (“fok-S”)
Six /sɪks/ (“sik-S”)
Next /nɛkst/ (“nek-ST”)
Tax /tæks/ (“tak-S”)
Excuse /ɪkˈskjus/ (first part “eks”)
(Remember, ‘X’ can also be /ɡz/ “exam” or /z/ “xylophone” in other contexts!)

#7: The Silent ‘T’ in ‘ST(L)E’ or ‘ST(H)EN’ → Just /s(l)/ or /s(n)/!

In some common words with ‘-sten’ or ‘-stle’, the ‘T’ becomes silent, leaving just an /s/ sound followed by /ən/ or /əl/ (often with a syllabic N or L).

Listen /ˈlɪsən/ (T is GONE! Sounds like “LISS-uhn”)
Castle /ˈkæsəl/ (“CASS-uhl”)
Whistle /ˈ(h)wɪsəl/ (“HWISS-uhl” or “WISS-uhl”)
Hasten /ˈheɪsən/ (“HACE-uhn”)
Mo<u>ist</u>en* /ˈmɔɪsən/ (already ends /sn/). Not ‘sten’. Example needed for ‘sthen’. Perhaps not a strong enough pattern for S only without a full ‘ST’ mention.
More accurately, the “ST” combination becomes /s/ before the sounds /əl/ or /ən/ when the T drops.

The Vanishing SILENT ‘S’!

There are a few tricky words where a written ‘S’ is actually SILENT! You just have to memorize these ninjas:

Island /ˈaɪlənd/ (S is gone! Sounds like “EYE-lənd”)
Aisle /aɪl/ (S is gone! Sounds like “eye-uhl”)
Debris /dəˈbri/ (S is often silent, French style)
Louis (French name, S often silent) /luˈi/ or /ˈluɪs/ if anglicized.
Illinois /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/ (S is silent!)
(Not very common, but good to know!)

Super “S” Spelling Summary (The BIG Ones!):

‘S’: The main one! (Sun, yes, bus) But often /z/ too!
‘C’ + E, I, Y: Your “Soft C” = /s/! (Cent, City, Face, Nice).
‘SS’: One clear /s/ sound (Miss, Pass, Glass).
‘SC’ + E, I, Y: Often /s/ (Scene, Science).
‘PS-‘ at start: P is silent → /s/ (Psychology).
‘X’: Usually /ks/ (Box, Fox).

Key Idea: While ‘S’ and ‘SS’ are obvious, ‘C’ before E, I, or Y is the biggest “alternative” spelling you NEED to master for /s/!

Master English Pronunciation Online: The Ultimate AI & Tool Guide

“S”-lip-Ups! Common /s/ Mistakes & Super Fixes!

What are the typical hissing hurdles for learners? Let’s smooth them out!

MISTAKE #1: THE “Z” ZAP! (Saying /z/ instead of /s/ – Devoicing) [This is the most critical contrast!]
- Problem: Your throat VIBRATES when it shouldn’t! “See” sounds like “Zee.” “Rice” sounds like “Rise.” This happens a LOT, especially when ‘S’ is at the end of a word or between vowels.
- THE #1 FIX: VOICE OFF! Master the throat buzz check! For /s/, NO VIBRATION. For /z/, VIBRATION ON. Practice whispering “Sssssss” long and loud. Then try words: “Bussss,” “YesSSS,” “HouSSS.” Feel the pure air.
MISTAKE #2: THE “SH” SHIFT! (Saying /ʃ/ (SHoe) instead of /s/)
- Uh-Oh: Your tongue blade pulls too far BACK from the alveolar ridge, and/or your lips get too rounded. “See” sounds like “She.” “Sock” sounds like “Shock.”
- The Fix: TONGUE TIP FORWARD & NARROW AIR! For /s/, the action is very FRONT (tip/blade near alveolar ridge). Keep the air stream super NARROW over the center of tongue tip. Lips neutral or only slightly spread (NO rounding for /s/!).
MISTAKE #3: THE “TH” FUMBLE! (Saying /θ/ (THink) instead of /s/)
- Problem: Your tongue tip PEEKS OUT between your teeth! “Sink” becomes “Think.”
- Solution: TONGUE BEHIND TEETH! For /s/, the tongue tip stays inside, very close to that bumpy ridge behind your top teeth. It NEVER comes between the teeth.
MISTAKE #4: THE “ES-SPEAK” ADDITION! (Adding a vowel before S+Consonant clusters)
- Common for Some L1s: Saying “eh-Street,” “eh-Small,” “eh-Sport.”
- The Fix: SLIDE FROM S! Practice starting the /s/ sound and holding it, then smoothly adding the next consonant without any vowel break: “Ssssss-treet.” “Ssssss-mall.” It takes practice to make your mouth transition directly.
MISTAKE #5: “C” CONFUSION! (Saying /k/ for ‘C’ when it’s Soft C /s/)
- Problem: Pronouncing “City” as “Kity” or “Cent” as “Kent.”
- The Fix: MEMORIZE THE “C+EIY=S” RULE! ‘C’ before E, I, or Y is almost always the /s/ sound! It’s a fundamental English spelling rule for pronunciation.
MISTAKE #6: A WEAK or LISPY /s/ (Not Enough Friction or Wrong Airflow).
- The Issue: Your /s/ sounds soft, dull, or has a bit of a “slushy” or “th”-like quality to it (a lisp).
- The Fix: NARROW THAT AIR CHANNEL & DIRECT IT!
  - Ensure tongue tip is forming a very NARROW groove for the air.
  - Aim the airstream directly at your upper front teeth or alveolar ridge.
  - Make sure there’s enough air pressure for a SHARP, clear hiss. Not too much, not too little.
  - For a lisp (often tongue tip too far forward, touching teeth too much, or air escaping sideways), pull tongue tip slightly back from direct tooth contact, ensure groove is central. This is complex and may need specialist help if persistent.

“Sizzling S” Practice Time! Exercises for a Super /s/!

Ready to make your “S” sound sharp and snake-like?

Exercise 1: The Long Hiss – Pure /s/ Power!

Tongue tip/blade super close to (but NOT touching!) alveolar ridge. Narrow central air groove. Lips neutral/slight spread. VOICE OFF.
Make a long, steady, SHARP hissing sound: “Ssssssssssssssssssssssssss…”
Hold for 5-10 seconds. Keep it clear and consistent. No ZZZZs! No SHHHs! No THHHs! Just SSSS!

Exercise 2: The S vs. Z VOICING Workout! (THE BIG ONE!)

Keep mouth IDENTICAL. Only switch voice ON/OFF! Hand on throat!

See /si/ (NO Buzz) — Zee /zi/ (the letter; BUZZ!)
Bus /bʌs/ (NO Buzz) — Buzz /bʌz/ (BUZZ!)
Rice /raɪs/ (NO Buzz) — Rise /raɪz/ (BUZZ!)
Face /feɪs/ (NO Buzz) — Phase /feɪz/ (BUZZ!)
Price /praɪs/ (NO Buzz) — Prize /praɪz/ (BUZZ!)
Loose /lus/ (NO Buzz) — Loose (verb)* /luz/ (To set free – this IS /z/!)
RECORD THESE! The ONLY difference should be the throat buzz!

Exercise 3: S vs. SH vs. TH – Tongue Position Showdown!

Sip /sɪp/ (Tongue Tip/Blade near Ridge, Forward)
Ship /ʃɪp/ (Tongue Blade Back, Body Up, Lips Rounder)
(Thip is not a word for /θɪp/ – use different examples)
- Sin /sɪn/ — Shin /ʃɪn/ — Thin /θɪn/ (Tongue BETWEEN Teeth!)
- Sick /sɪk/ — Shick (not word) — Thick /θɪk/
- Sigh /saɪ/ — Shy /ʃaɪ/ — Thigh /θaɪ/
  Focus on feeling WHERE your tongue is creating the friction!

Exercise 4: S-Cluster Smooth Start! (No “eS-“!)

Practice holding the S, then adding the next consonant.

Ssss-peak… Speak!
Ssss-treet… Street!
Ssss-mall… Small!
Ssss-now… Snow!
Ssss-leep… Sleep!
Ssss-top… Stop!
Ssss-chool… School! (Remember SC before O is /sk/!)

Exercise 5: Decode the Spellings – Read These /s/ Words Aloud!

Focus on making the SAME /s/ sound, no matter the letters!

S/SS: see, yes, miss, bus, class, pass, sorry, ask, stop, start, say, use (noun /jus/).
C+EIY: city, cent, face, place, nice, voice, cycle, fancy, decision (/sɪʒən/ – ‘ci’ then /ʒ/). -> Better: medicine /ˈmɛdəsən/.
SC+EIY: scene, science, scent, scissors (/ˈsɪzərz/).
PS- (P silent): psychology, psalm, pseudo.
X (/ks/): box, fox, six, next, text, excuse.
ST (T silent): listen, castle, whistle, fasten.

Exercise 6: Official Top 30 Word Workout!

PHONETICAL PRONUNCIATION

For EACH:

Correct TONGUE TIP position (near ridge, no touch!).
VOICE OFF!
Sharp, continuous HISS!

Critical re-analysis: The example word list from Sounds American /s/ video transcript IS problematic as some words like “this,” “just,” “his,” “is,” “us,” “because,” “as,” “was,” “always,” “does” frequently have the /z/ sound not /s/ in AmE connected speech or common pronunciation. It’s vital to provide accurate examples for /s/. For this guide, only clear /s/ examples will be used.
- REVISED CLEAR /s/ FOCUS WORDS FROM LIST: so, see, yes, say, some (can be /sʌm/), sorry (often /sɑri/), said (often /sɛd/), stop, first, ask, still, sir, must, last, start, place, stay, listen, miss, nice, house (/s/ ending!), course, same, else, next.
  RECORD and critique your hiss! Is it clean? Voiceless?

Exercise 7: “Sizzling Sentences” – Put Your /s/ to the Test! + RECORD!

RECORD and listen: Is your /s/ always a voiceless hiss? Are clusters smooth?

“Sally [s] sells [s] sea [s] shells by the sea [s] shore.” (Classic S/SH contrast too!).
“Some [s] silly [s] snakes [s] slipped [s] past [st/s] the sleeping [s] cats [s].”
“It’s [s] nice [s] to see [s] the sun [s] in this city [s].”
“The psychologist [s] [st] asked an excellent (/ks/) question (/stʃən/ or /skən/ – actually not great S word).”
- Revised: “The psychologist [s][st] asked six [s] simple [s] questions.”
“The price [s] of the house [s] seems strange [s].” (STRANGE is /streɪndʒ/!)
- Revised: “The price [s] of this [s] house [s] seems excessive [s][s].”

FAQs: Your American /s/ Sound (“Sun,” “See”) Questions Cleared!

Q1: What’s the absolute EASIEST way to remember how to make the American /s/ sound?

Think “Gentle Snake Hiss!”:

Tongue Tip: Gently bring it very near (but DON’T touch!) that bumpy spot behind your top front teeth.
Air: Let air flow continuously through a tiny groove over your tongue tip.
Voice: OFF! No throat buzz. Just “Sssssssssss.”
Lips are relaxed or in a very slight, flat smile.

Q2: My “S” always sounds like “Z” (“see” -> “zee”)! How do I fix this URGENTLY?

This is the VOICING mistake. You MUST turn your “throat motor” (vocal cords) OFF for /s/.

PRACTICE: Put your hand on your throat.
- Whisper a long, loud “SSSSSSSSSS.” Feel NO vibration.
- Now, make a loud, buzzy “ZZZZZZZZZZ.” Feel STRONG vibration.
Alternate quickly: Sss-Zzz-Sss-Zzz. Learn to control that ON/OFF switch in your throat. This is the ONLY difference between /s/ and /z/ mouth-wise.

Q3: Sometimes my “S” sounds like “SH” (“sit” -> “shit”). What am I doing wrong?

Your tongue blade is too far BACK and/or too flat/wide, and your lips might be rounding too much.

For /s/ (sit): Tongue tip/blade is more FORWARD, making a NARROWER groove near the alveolar ridge. Lips are NEUTRAL or only slightly spread.
For /ʃ/ (SHit): Tongue blade is FURTHER BACK (behind alveolar ridge, towards hard palate), body of tongue more raised. Lips often ROUND a bit.
Focus on a forward tongue tip for /s/ and a very sharp, narrow hiss.

Q4: When ‘C’ is spelled, how do I know if it’s /s/ (“city”) or /k/ (“cat”)?

This is a HUGE rule in English!

‘C’ before E, I, or Y = Almost always SOFT C, which is the /s/ sound! (Examples: cent, city, face, nice, pencil, cycle).
‘C’ before A, O, U, or a Consonant = Almost always HARD C, which is the /k/ sound! (Examples: cat, cold, cut, act, clean).
Memorize “C + E, I, Y = /s/!”

Q5: How do I say words like “speak” or “street” without putting an “eh-” sound at the beginning?

This is common if your native language doesn’t like to start words with “S + Consonant.”

The TRICK: Start by making JUST the /s/ sound and HOLD it: “Sssssssssss.”
Then, while still holding that /s/, smoothly transition into the NEXT consonant sound without a vowel break.
- “Ssssss-PEAK” (blend the /s/ into the /p/)
- “Ssssss-TREET” (blend /s/ into /t/)
- “Ssssss-MALL” (blend /s/ into /m/)
  It takes practice to connect them seamlessly!

TECNICA de PRONUNCIACION ✅ que tu PROFE de INGLES NUNCA te ENSEÑO ✅ / s / Consonante

Ver este video en YouTube.

/ s /

Key Takeaways: Your American /s/ Will Sound Superb!

You’ve done a sensational job navigating the American /s/ sound! You now know it’s all about that precise tongue-tip position, continuous voiceless airflow, and being a spelling detective!

Remember your “S”-uperstar points:

/s/ = TONGUE TIP NEAR (not touching!) Alveolar Ridge + NARROW AIR HISS + VOICE OFF! (Voiceless Alveolar Fricative).
#1 vs. /z/ (zoo) = VOICE OFF for /s/, VOICE ON for /z/. (Same mouth!).
#1 vs. /ʃ/ (shoe) = TONGUE MORE FORWARD for /s/, MORE BACK for /ʃ/ (+ lips).
#1 vs. /θ/ (thin) = TONGUE BEHIND TEETH for /s/, BETWEEN/ON TEETH for /θ/.
SPELLING = S, SS main. HUGE RULE: C+E,I,Y = /s/ (city)! Also SC, PS, X (/ks/).
S-CLUSTERS (street): Slide from /s/ to next consonant, no “eS-“!
SILENT S words: Island, aisle, debris, Illinois.

The heart of a perfect /s/ is that crisp, clear, voiceless hiss. Practice the voicing contrast with /z/ daily. Become a master of spotting “Soft C.” Record yourself on those tricky S-clusters. Your American English will sound significantly clearer, sharper, and more professional! You’ve got this “s”-nailed!

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