 A common issue for non-native English speakers is the pronunciation of words that end in the letter “s.” Written words can lead us astray, as letters stand for different sounds in different contexts. When a word ends with the letter “s,” it is frequently pronounced with voicing, or what we think of as the “z” sound. Here are some guidelines for knowing when to say “sss” and when to say “zzz.”
The word ends with “ss”: Pronounce “sss.” Examples: glass, across, less, miss The word ends with “ce”: Pronounce “sss.” Examples: ice, face, space The word ends with “se”: These words are split. For some, pronounce “zzz.” Examples: because, these, close For others, pronounce “sss.” Examples: house, goose, lease When in doubt, use your online dictionary resources to listen to the correct pronunciation of the word. The word ends with “s”: These words are split. For most, pronounce “zzz.” Examples: is, was, has, says, goes For some, pronounce “sss.” Examples: us, yes When in doubt, use your online dictionary resources to listen to the correct pronunciation of the word. For plurals, the “s” or “z” sound depends on the voicing of the letter preceding the “s.” So the word “goods” has a “z” pronunciation, because the “d” is voiced. But the word “gets” has an “s” pronunciation because the “t” is voiceless.
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 Every accent has its own distinct character, but often one of the elements that can make you hard to understand has to do with the ends of words. In American English, we usually pronounce sounds at end of a word, unless the word ends with a silent “e” (such as in the words name, goose, slice) or the word has been adopted into English from a foreign language (such as the words bourgeois, gourmet). A common error found in many foreign accents is de-voicing final consonants (for example, saying “bet” instead of “bed”), saying the final sound of the word too softly or leaving it off entirely. This error can be compounded by the speaker’s lack of confidence and desire not to call attention to his or her accent.
Practice reading aloud, and slow down enough to say all of the sounds you see in the written words. You will feel your mouth moving more than you are used to. Next, try having a short conversation using this same technique. You may find that people can understand what you are saying better because you are putting the end sounds on your words. 
photo credit aboutworldlanguages.com
Indian English has many features which make it different from American or British English. Not only do Indian speakers have different pronunciation, they will sometimes use words which can have different meaning in American English. The grammar of Indian English has some differences from American English grammar. There are also words and phrases in Indian English which are commonly used which are not used or understood by Americans. To read more, check out this article in the Language of India Journal.
Want to learn more about the American Accent? Subscribe to our online course for speakers of Indian English. Videos, audio recordings and more, all designed for native speakers of Indian Languages. Subscribe today!
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