

s




This consonant makes two sounds. At the beginning of a word or syllable or after an unvoiced consonant, it will make its unvoiced sound: /s/, /s/, /s/, sun.
Consonant S can be voiced and unvoiced, depending on where it is in a word and the sounds after and before.
Unvoiced at the beginning of a word: Consonant S will typically be unvoiced at the beginning of a word or syllable, as in the beginning of “sun”.
Unvoiced at the end of a word: Consonant S will also typically be unvoiced at the end of a word, if the consonant right before is also unvoiced, as in “books”.
Voiced and unvoiced after a vowel: When Consonant S is after a vowel, it is sometimes unvoiced, as in “ask” and sometimes voiced as in “has”.
Voiced between two vowels: When Consonant S is between two vowels sounds, it may make a voiced sound, as in “busy”.
Voiced before a voiced consonant: When Consonant S is before a voiced consonant sound, it may also have a voiced sound, as in “husband”.
Depending on the speaker, Consonant S may sound unvoiced, even though many others would say it voiced.


/s/


s


˘ss


c



-ce



-se


sc


ps
s