LISTEN
listen_to_-sh-.mp3
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/ʃ/…/ʃ/…/ʃ/…/ʃ/…

push…show...shrimp…pressure

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
The sound /ʃ/ is a voiceless, alveo-palatal, fricative consonant. 
  • Lightly press the middle of your tongue between your alveolar ridge and your soft palate. The sides of your tongue should lightly touch your back upper teeth.
  • Breathe out and allow air to flow past your tongue.
  • Your vocal cords should not vibrate.
 
The sound /ʃ/ can be in these consonant clusters:​
    • ​​Beginning of a Syllable
  • ​​End of a Syllable
<
>
sh_initial_clusters.mp3
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​/ʃr/ (“shr”) - shrink
sh_final_clusters.mp3
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/rʃ/ (“rsh”) - harsh
/lʃ/ (“lsh”) - Welsh
/ʃt/  (“shed”) - finished

Spelling:
  • “sh” – shoe, push
  • “ss” (+ “u” or “I”) – pressure, mission
  • “ch” – champagne, machine
  • “ti” – patience, station
  • “ce” (not common)– ocean, groceries 
  • “s” (not common) – sugar, sure ​

​Grammar Tip:
The sound /ʃ/ is present in the suffixes "–tion" and "-ssion". These suffixes may turn a verb into a noun if the verb ends in /t/ or /s/.
grammar_-sh-.mp3
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  • create --> creation
  • direct --> direction
  • educate --> education
  • express --> expression
  • discuss --> discussion

COMPARE
Compare /ʃ/ and /s/:
compare_sh-s_1.mp3
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/ʃ/…/s/…/ʃ/…/s/…/ʃ/…/s/…

These are both voiceless fricative consonants pronounced near the alveolar ridge. However, /ʃ/ is an alveo-palatal fricative and /s/ is an alveolar fricative. When you pronounce /s/, your tongue is slightly farther forward than when you pronounce /ʃ/.
​
You can hear the difference between /ʃ/ and /s/ in these words.
compare_sh-s_words.mp3
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1. A. shine, B. sign
2. A. shame, B. same
3. A. plush, B. plus
4. A. cashed, B. cast
​5. A. meshing, B. messing ​
6. A. furnishes, B. furnaces

​Practice recognizing words with /ʃ/ and /s/ by taking the quiz below.

Now compare /ʃ/ and /tʃ/:
compare_sh-ch_1.mp3
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/ʃ/…/tʃ/…/ʃ/…/tʃ/…/ʃ/…/tʃ/…

These are both voiceless alveo-palatal consonants. However, /tʃ/ is an affricate while /ʃ/ is a fricative. When you pronounce /tʃ/, the air in your mouth should stop (like a /t/) before it is released (like a /ʃ/).

You can hear the difference between /ʃ/ and /tʃ/ in these words.
compare_sh-ch_words.mp3
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1. A. sheep, B. cheap
2. A. share, B. chair
3. A. bash, B. batch
4. A. Porsches, B. porches
5. A. washed, B. watched
6. A. dishes, B. ditches​

Practice recognizing words with /ʃ/ and /tʃ/ by taking the quiz below.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-sh-.mp3
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1. shape
2. shine
3. shell
4. shabby
5. shrimp
6. shrewd
7. brush
8. cash
9. fish
10. harsh
11. rushed
12. publish
13. foolish
14. ocean
15. machine
16. portion
17. mention
18. addiction
19. assumption
20. sensation

Now, practice /ʃ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.​
sentences_with_-sh-.mp3
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​1. technicians – rushed - machine
The technicians rushed to repair the machine.
2. she – groceries* – cash
She paid for the groceries with cash.
3. essential – share – information
It’s essential that we share this information with the public
4. invitation – mention – location
The invitation didn’t mention the location of the party.
5. chef – selection – dishes
The chef prepared a selection of dishes for us to try.
6. wash – shampoo – conditioner
​I always wash my hair with shampoo and conditioner

(*In some varieties of American English, "groceries" may be pronounced with /s/.)

To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

USE IT!
​​Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.

​Prepare:
What do you think you can gain (or what have you gained) from a college education? Look at this list and choose the 3 things that are most important to you.​
  • Professional knowledge and skills
  • The ability to question your own assumptions about the world
  • The ability to see connections between ideas, cultures, and disciplines
  • ​Strategies for managing your emotions
  • Information about career development
  • Strategies for financial planning
  • Long-lasting relationships
  • Excellent communication skills​
  • Professional knowledge and skills
  • The ability to question your own assumptions about the world
  • The ability to see connections between ideas, cultures, and disciplines​
  • ​Strategies for managing your emotions
  • Information about career development
  • Strategies for financial planning
  • Long-lasting relationships
  • Excellent communication skills​

Record:
​​In your recording, explain why these 3 things are important and how you can gain them from a college education.

​©2018-2021, Christine Wingate