Today in the classroom you are going to
learn to pronounce the sound s as in
the words sip, sit,
seat, seem. Remember "practice makes perfect" if
you want to improve your English speaking ability.
Hey
if you cannot understand something on this page,
then use the Fun Easy English
dictionary
(opens in a new window)
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
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.
From
YOUR Teacher:
Pronouncing S
This sound is present in many languages around the world
and should be pretty easy.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
Hey Students,
Use this dictionary and reference to look up any words you do not
understand in Fun Easy English.
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
