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.
2 Comments
Maize
8/7/2024 05:18:26 pm
Thanks. it is different from other guide pictures. But now I can pronounce the correct /z/ sound, validated by voice-to-text technique.
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