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Pronunciation Lesson 31
 
Pronounce the sound in the words:
sip, sit, seat, seem
Quick Links
Vowels 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10    
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20    
Consonants 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44
Pronunciation video

Watch the following video and learn how to pronounce this sound


Practice speaking while watching the video.
Spelling

This sound can be spelled in any of the following ways
s sip, sink, single, sit, six, seek, seat, seep, seal, seem, bus
c fancy
 
Note: the red letters all have the same sound
 
Sound type

This is an UNVOICED sound which means Your Vocal Cords DO NOT vibrate when making the sound.
You CANNOT LISTEN to your Vocal Cords vibrating if you cover your ears with your hands.

Try covering your ears with your hands as Akiko is doing in the picture.

Now make the sound of this lesson. You cannot listen to your vocal cords vibrating.
VERY GOOD
You CANNOT FEEL your Vocal Cords vibrating if you place your hands on your neck.

Try placing your hands on your neck as Akiko is doing in the picture.

Now make the sound of this lesson. You cannot feel your vocal cords vibrating.
VERY GOOD
The following diagram shows the most important parts of your head and mouth used for pronouncing the sounds of English. It also shows the location of your Vocal Cords.
 
Mouth, lips, and tongue position

The following descriptions explain the proper mouth, lips, and tongue position when you make this sound.
Mouth

Your mouth releases air continuously.
Lips

Your lips should be slightly separated.
Tongue

The front part of your tongue should be in the center part of your mouth.
Practice video

Watch the following video and practice pronouncing this sound.


Listen to the video and practice repeating each word.
 
 
Pronunciation practice words

Look at your mouth in a mirror and practice pronouncing the following words. Make sure your mouth, lips, and tongue are in their proper positions.
sip sink single sit
six seek seat seep
seal seem bus fancy
 
Note: the red letters all have the same sound (watch the video above)
 
Pronunciation word test
Try saying the following tongue twisters as quickly as possible.
  • She sells sea shells by the sea shore; the sea-shells that she sells are sea-shells I'm sure.
  • I slit a sheet a sheet I slit upon a slitted sheet I sit.
  • The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick.
  • Six sick slick slim sycamore saplings.
  • A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.
  • Mr. See owned a saw. And Mr. Soar owned a seesaw. Now See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw Before Soar saw See, Which made Soar sore. Had Soar seen See's saw Before See sawed Soar's seesaw, See's saw would not have sawed Soar's seesaw. So See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw. But it was sad to see Soar so sore Just because See's saw sawed Soar's seesaw!
  • We surely shall see the sun shine soon.
  • Sly Sam slurps Sally's soup.
  • Six short slow shepherds.
  • Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep. The seven silly sheep Silly Sally shooed shilly-shallied south. These sheep shouldn't sleep in a shack; sheep should sleep in a shed.
  • Six sticky sucker sticks.
  • Sure the ship's shipshape, sir.
  • Sixish.
  • Swan swam over the sea, Swim, swan, swim! Swan swam back again. Well swum, swan!
  • Shelter for six sick scenic sightseers.
  • The sawingest saw I ever saw saw was the saw I saw saw in Arkansas.
  • Strange strategic statistics.
  • Sarah sitting in her Chevrolet, All she does is sits and shifts, All she does is sits and shifts.
  • Six slippery snails, slid slowly seaward.
  • Suddenly swerving, seven small swans Swam silently southward, Seeing six swift sailboats Sailing sedately seaward.
  • Shredded Swiss cheese.
  • Selfish shellfish.
  • Sarah saw a shot-silk sash shop full of shot-silk sashes as the sunshine shone on the side of the shot-silk sash shop.
  • Strict strong stringy Stephen Stretch slickly snared six sickly silky snakes.
  • Susan shineth shoes and socks; socks and shoes shines Susan. She ceased shining shoes and socks, for shoes and socks shock Susan.
 
 
Pronunciation Information
American English Phonics

Learn the sounds of vowel and consonant combinations. Match the vowels (A,E,I,O,U) with the consonants (B,D,G,M,N,P,R,T,W,Y) to form words with the same sounds. Pictures included to make understanding easier. Great pages for kids.
News Words

Learn to correctly pronounce difficult world places and names in the news. Each country page shows the English spelling and the phonetic spelling of difficult to pronounce words in the news from that country. This is very important if you want to discuss the news and other issues with native English speakers.
 
More Pronunciation Information
Are You How You Talk?
(Beginner - Listening, reading)

A video lesson to help with your understanding of American dialects.
The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page.
Are You How You Talk?
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your understanding of American dialects. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
Improve Your Pronunciation by Training Your Ears
(Beginner - Listening)

An audio lesson to help with your pronunciation and English language reductions. The English is spoken at 75% of normal speed. Great English pronunciation tips. Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this audio program.
 
Search Fun Easy English
 
 
 
 
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