Story time (connected speech)
One day Sparky the star found a shoe. Next to it was a sheep and a shark. "Wow!" said Sparky. Then Sparky saw a ship and a shell. What a great day!
SH
SH sound /ʃ/
The quiet 'shh' sound, with lips rounded forward.
American English pronunciation model · voiceless · behind the ridge (postalveolar) · fricative · spellings: sh, ti (nation), ci (ocean)
This page practises English sounds — the words and sentences stay in English on purpose.
Watch how to make this sound
/ʃ/ · Quiet shushing sound
Articulation visual awaiting professional review — not yet checked by a speech and language therapist.
Voice off · no buzz · Airflow
Round your lips a little; tongue blade just behind the ridge.
The tongue blade approaches the area behind the alveolar ridge without sealing it.
Movement 1/3: Lips round a little
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How to Make the Sound
/ʃ/
Voice switched OFF
Put your hand on your throat — it should stay still and quiet. Only air.
Remember it: Quiet sound — like asking someone to be quiet: shh.
- Tongue
- The tongue is a little further back than for /s/, lifted towards the roof of the mouth, wider and flatter.
- Lips and jaw
- Lips pushed forward and rounded; teeth close together.
- Air
- A wide, soft stream of air.
Step by step
- Push your lips forward like a kiss.
- Teeth close together.
- Blow softly — shh.
Common difficulties and gentle help
- Sounds like /s/ ("sip" for "ship"). Round the lips more and slide the tongue back slightly. Compare "sss" and "shh" in a mirror.
- Slushy sound with air at the sides. Please ask a Speech and Language Therapist for advice rather than practising it.
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
/ʃ/
Lips round like a kiss, quiet sound: shh.
Hear yourself
This device can't record audio, so listening back isn't available here. Practise with the model sounds instead.
2. Syllables
sha
shee
sho
shoo
shi
asha
eesha
osha
ash
eesh
osh
Initial position
shoe
/ʃ/ · initial
“my shoe”
sheep
/ʃ/ · initial
“my sheep”
shark
/ʃ/ · initial
“my shark”
ship
/ʃ/ · initial
“my ship”
shell
/ʃ/ · initial
“my shell”
Medial position
fishing
/ʃ/ · medial
“my fishing”
ocean
/ʃ/ · medial
“my ocean”
cushion
/ʃ/ · medial
“my cushion”
sunshine
/ʃ/ · medial
“my sunshine”
Final position
fish
/ʃ/ · final
“my fish”
brush
/ʃ/ · final
“my brush”
dish
/ʃ/ · final
“my dish”
trash
/ʃ/ · final
“my trash”
splash
/ʃ/ · final
“my splash”
Short phrases
- my shoe
- my sheep
- my shark
- my ship
- my shell
- my fishing
- my ocean
- my cushion
- my sunshine
- my fish
- my brush
- my dish
Sentences
- I can see the shoe.
- I can see the sheep.
- I can see the shark.
- I can see the ship.
- I can see the shell.
- I can see the fishing.
- I can see the ocean.
- I can see the cushion.
- I can see the sunshine.
- I can see the fish.