To learn how to pronounce the final s, we have to understand what voiced and voiceless consonants are.
Voiced consonants are consonant sounds that are made by vibrating the vocal cords. These are the voiced consonants: B, D, G, J, L, M, N, Ng, R, Sz, V, W, Y, Z, and Th ( as in “then”)
Voiceless consonants do not use the vocal cords to produce their hard, percussive sounds. These are the voiceless consonants: Ch, F, K, P, S, Sh, T, and Th (as in “thing”).
Table of Contents
How to Pronounce Words Endings in S
This is a good video that explains how to pronounce words ending in S
Rules: The Pronunciation of the Final S
The final S is pronounced in three different ways. The Final S Pronunciation is based on the final sound of a word, before adding -s.
When a word ends with a Voiceless sound, the final “s” is pronounced as /s/
| P | Cups |
| T | Hats |
| K | Cooks |
| F | Cliffs |
| TH | Myths |
When word ends with a Voiceless sound, the final “s” is pronounced as /Z/
| C | Races |
| S | Pauses |
| X | Fixes |
| Z | Amazes |
| SS | Kisses |
| CH | Churches |
| SH | Dishes |
| GE | Changes |
When word ends with one of these sounds /dʒ/, /s/, /z/,/ʃ/ and /tʃ/ the final “s” is pronounced as /IZ/
| B | Crabs |
| D | Cards |
| G | Rugs |
| L | Calls |
| M | Plums |
| N | Fans |
| NG | Kings |
| R | Wears |
| V | Gloves |
| Y | Plays |
Pronunciation of Final “S” Examples
In these chart, you can see words that fall into the different pronunciation categories
| IZ | Z | S |
| Races | Sleep | Crabs |
| Dishes | Books | Words |
| Changes | Hats | Bags |
| Buses | Cliffs | Deals |
| Boxes | Graphs | Dreams |
| Prizes | Myths | Fans |
| Kisses | Sings | |
| Watches | Wears | |
| Gloves | ||
| Plays |
Pronunciation of the Final “S” Exercises
These are some exercises that can help you learn more about how to pronounce the final “S”
- English Hilfen – Pronunciation of the Final “S”
- Grammar Quizzes – Final “S” Pronunciation
- English Language Centers – Final “S” Pronunciation
More Information
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