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LISTEN |
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/ʃ/…/ʃ/…/ʃ/…/ʃ/…
push…show...shrimp…pressure |
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WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation:
The sound /ʃ/ is a voiceless, alveo-palatal, fricative consonant.
The sound /ʃ/ can be in these consonant clusters:
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:
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- Beginning of a Syllable
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End of a Syllable
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>
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/ʃr/ (“shr”) - shrink
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/rʃ/ (“rsh”) - harsh
/lʃ/ (“lsh”) - Welsh /ʃt/ (“shed”) - finished |
Spelling:
- “sh” – shoe, push
- “ss” (+ “u”/“i”) – pressure, mission
- “ch” – champagne, machine
- "ci" - special, precious
- “ti” – patience, station
- "sci" (not common) - conscious, luscious
- “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/.
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COMPARE |
Compare /ʃ/ and /s/:
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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.
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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/:
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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.
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1. A. sheep, B. cheap
2. A. share, B. chair 3. A. bash, B. batch 4. A. washed, B. watched 5. A. dishes, B. ditches 6. A. Porsches, B. porches |
Practice recognizing words with /ʃ/ and /tʃ/ by taking the quiz below.
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PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words:

words_with_-sh-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 522 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
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.
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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:
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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.
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.
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- 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

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