Story time (connected speech)
One day Sparky the star found a sun. Next to it was a sock and a soap. "Wow!" said Sparky. Then Sparky saw a sandwich and a seal. What a great day!
S
S sound /s/
A long snake sound. Spelt S, SS or C (city). Note: S in 'nose' is /z/, so it is not here.
American English pronunciation model · voiceless · tongue tip (alveolar) · fricative · spellings: s, ss, c (before e/i/y), ce
This page practises English sounds — the words and sentences stay in English on purpose.
Watch how to make this sound
/s/ · Hissing sound
Articulation visual awaiting professional review — not yet checked by a speech and language therapist.
Voice off · no buzz · Airflow
Keep your tongue inside your mouth and send air down a narrow channel.
The tongue blade is close to the ridge, without a complete closure. The tip may be up or down; it never needs to protrude.
Movement 1/3: Teeth close, not clenched
The camera view stays on this device. Nothing is recorded, saved or uploaded.
How to Make the Sound
/s/
Voice switched OFF
Put your hand on your throat — it should stay still and quiet. Only air.
Remember it: Snake sound — a long, quiet hiss.
- Tongue
- The tongue tip is just behind the top or bottom front teeth (both are correct), without touching the teeth. The sides of the tongue touch the top side teeth, making a little channel down the middle.
- Lips and jaw
- Teeth close together, lips in a slight smile.
- Air
- A thin, steady stream of air down the middle of the tongue, out over the front teeth.
Step by step
- Bring your teeth together and smile.
- Keep your tongue behind your teeth.
- Blow a long, thin stream of air — sss.
More than one right way: Some people make /s/ with the tongue tip up, others with it down behind the bottom teeth. Both can sound clear — your therapist will advise which suits your child.
Common difficulties and gentle help
- Tongue between the teeth (sounds like TH) — an interdental lisp. Use a mirror and "tongue inside the house". Teeth together can help.
- Slushy or wet sound, air at the sides — a lateral lisp. This does not usually go away on its own and benefits from individual advice. Please speak to a Speech and Language Therapist rather than practising it at home.
- Sounds like /t/ ("tun" for "sun"). Make the sound long and stretchy before adding the rest of the word.
Step up gradually
- 1. Sound on its own
- 2. Syllables
- 3. Words
- 4. Phrases
- 5. Sentences
- 6. Everyday talk
A sound can be easier on its own than in connected speech. Move on only when your child is saying it accurately and feels ready — not just because a worksheet is finished. Read the Parent Guide
1. Sound in isolation
/s/
Teeth close together, tongue behind them, long snake sound: sss.
Hear yourself
This device can't record audio, so listening back isn't available here. Practise with the model sounds instead.
2. Syllables
sa
see
so
soo
si
asa
eesa
osa
as
ees
os
Initial position
sun
/s/ · initial
“the hot sun”
sock
/s/ · initial
“a red sock”
soap
/s/ · initial
“wash with soap”
sandwich
/s/ · initial
“a yummy sandwich”
seal
/s/ · initial
“my seal”
saw
/s/ · initial
“my saw”
salad
/s/ · initial
“my salad”
soup
/s/ · initial
“hot soup”
sailboat
/s/ · initial
“my sailboat”
city
/s/ · initial
“a big city”
circle
/s/ · initial
“my circle”
seven
/s/ · initial
“my seven”
Medial position
bicycle
/s/ · medial
“ride a bicycle”
dinosaur
/s/ · medial
“a big dinosaur”
pencil
/s/ · medial
“my pencil”
castle
/s/ · medial
“my castle”
racing car
/s/ · medial
“my racing car”
glasses
/s/ · medial
“my glasses”
baseball
/s/ · medial
“my baseball”
motorcycle
/s/ · medial
“my motorcycle”
messy room
/s/ · medial
“a messy room”
whistle
/s/ · medial
“blow the whistle”
Final position
bus
/s/ · final
“a yellow bus”
house
/s/ · final
“my house”
mouse
/s/ · final
“a little mouse”
dress
/s/ · final
“my dress”
glass
/s/ · final
“my glass”
juice
/s/ · final
“apple juice”
face
/s/ · final
“a happy face”
horse
/s/ · final
“my horse”
rice
/s/ · final
“my rice”
goose
/s/ · final
“my goose”
moose
/s/ · final
“my moose”
dice
/s/ · final
“roll the dice”
Blends
spoon
/s/ · in /sp/ blend
“a big spoon”
spider
/s/ · in /sp/ blend
“my spider”
star
/s/ · in /st/ blend
“a shiny star”
stop
/s/ · in /st/ blend
“stop sign”
skate
/s/ · in /sk/ blend
“my skate”
skunk
/s/ · in /sk/ blend
“my skunk”
school
/s/ · in /sk/ blend
“my school”
smile
/s/ · in /sm/ blend
“a big smile”
snake
/s/ · in /sn/ blend
“a long snake”
snow
/s/ · in /sn/ blend
“my snow”
snowman
/s/ · in /sn/ blend
“my snowman”
snail
/s/ · in /sn/ blend
“my snail”
slide
/s/ · in /sl/ blend
“down the slide”
sled
/s/ · in /sl/ blend
“my sled”
sloth
/s/ · in /sl/ blend
“my sloth”
swan
/s/ · in /sw/ blend
“my swan”
swim
/s/ · in /sw/ blend
“swim fast”
street
/s/ · in /str/ blend
“my street”
strawberry
/s/ · in /str/ blend
“my strawberry”
Short phrases
- the hot sun
- a red sock
- wash with soap
- a yummy sandwich
- my seal
- my saw
- my salad
- hot soup
- my sailboat
- a big city
- my circle
- my seven
Sentences
- I can see the sun.
- I can see the sock.
- I can see the soap.
- I can see the sandwich.
- I can see the seal.
- I can see the saw.
- I can see the salad.
- I can see the soup.
- I can see the sailboat.
- I can see the city.