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.
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.
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.
You
CANNOT LISTEN to your Vocal Cords vibrating if you cover your ears
with your hands.
You
CANNOT FEEL your Vocal Cords vibrating if you place your hands on
your neck.
Mouth
Lips
Tongue
