ShortConsonant contrast
SH vs S Sounds Minimal Pairs
/ʃ/ and /s/ pronunciation, listening, and reading practice
/ʃ/ is farther back and usually uses slight lip rounding. /s/ is sharper and made closer to the teeth.
Produce both sounds accurately
What changes in the mouth?
SH
Pull the tongue slightly back, raise its broad front, and round the lips a little.
S
Keep the tongue nearer the teeth, lips unrounded, and send air through a narrow groove.
Accuracy note: Do not use the same tongue position for both sounds. SH must be farther back than S.
7 reviewed contrasts
Listen to the minimal pairs
Play both words in a row. First decide whether they sound the same or different; then repeat each word without adding an extra vowel.
Interactive practice
Listen and choose
Hear one word, then select the word you heard. Complete six questions and replay whenever you need to.
Listen carefully, then choose.
Meaning in context
Read both sounds in sentences
1She can see the ship.
2Sue put a shoe on the seat.
3The sack is in the shack.
4Mash the yam into a soft mass.
Read once slowly for accuracy, then reread at a natural pace. Ask the learner to point to each target word and explain its meaning.
Deliberate practice
A five-minute teaching routine
Play four words and ask the learner to identify sound A or sound B.
Reveal the pair, say both words, and check the mouth cue above.
Read one sentence and discuss how changing the sound changes the word.
Smile lightly for /s/, then round the lips and pull the tongue back for /ʃ/.
Offline review
Print this sound contrast lesson
The print view includes the mouth cues, reviewed pairs, accuracy note, sentences, and practice routine.