About this lesson
S and SH are both airy sounds with no voice, so a hand on your throat will not tell them apart. What separates them is your lips and your tongue. For S, the lips are relaxed or drawn slightly wide and the tongue is further forward. For SH, the lips round and come forward, and the tongue rises towards the roof of your mouth with the tip pulled back and not touching.
The two most common slips are SH sliding into S and SH turning into CH. SH is a steady stream of air that you can hold, while CH is a stop followed by a release. One teacher starts from a whispered ee and rounds the lips into SH, and several say to exaggerate the lip shape while you learn. You can check with a mirror, watch your mouth with the sound off, or record yourself and listen back.
Train your ear first: practise hearing which word was said before you drill the pair. Teachers differ slightly on how close the teeth are and how the tongue tip starts, so use the clips for the idea and check against what you hear. A mirror or a recording tells you more than any rule, and the change takes weeks of short practice, not days.
Examples from the clips
- Rachel's English compares the two mouths, relaxed or wide lips for S and flared lips for SH, and then tests your ear with a one-word quiz.
- Peachie Speechie, a speech therapist, builds SH by putting the sides of the tongue up, the tip back and the lips round.
- Sounds American shows how to build SH and stretch it out, then lists the sounds learners most often swap it with.
- English with Ronnie suggests recording yourself and listening back to catch a swapped sound.
Questions this lesson answers
What is the difference between S and SH?
Both are airy sounds with no voice. For S the lips are relaxed or wide and the tongue is forward. For SH the lips are round and forward and the tongue is raised with the tip back.
How do I make the SH sound?
Lift the sides of your tongue, pull the tip back from the ridge behind your teeth without touching, round your lips and push air through steadily. A whispered ee that you round into SH can help you find it.
Why does my SH sound like CH?
CH starts with a stop and then releases. SH is steady air that you can hold. Keep the air flowing without blocking it.
Are S and SH voiced?
No, both are voiceless. A throat check shows no buzz for either, so it cannot tell them apart.
How can I check my own SH?
Use a mirror to see your lips, watch your mouth with the sound off, or record a short line and listen for which sound you made.