|
LISTEN |
![]()
|
/ʒ/.../ʒ/.../ʒ/.../ʒ/...
measure...usually...vision...conclusion... |
|
WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation:
The sound /ʒ/ is a voiced, alveo-palatal, fricative consonant.
Spelling:
Grammar Tip:
The sound /ʒ/ is most common in the suffix “-sion.” This suffix transforms some verbs into nouns. If the verb ends in -ude/-ide/-ode/-ade, -ise, -use, or -vert, the final sound often becomes /ʒən/.Lightly press the front part of your tongue between your alveolar ridge and your soft palate. The sides of your tongue should lightly touch your back upper teeth.
The sound /ʒ/ is a voiced, 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 vibrate
Spelling:
- "s"/"si" - usually, vision
- "g"/"ge" - rouge, genre
Grammar Tip:
The sound /ʒ/ is most common in the suffix “-sion.” This suffix transforms some verbs into nouns. If the verb ends in -ude/-ide/-ode/-ade, -ise, -use, or -vert, the final sound often becomes /ʒən/.Lightly press the front part of your tongue between your alveolar ridge and your soft palate. The sides of your tongue should lightly touch your back upper teeth.
![]()
|
|
|
COMPARE |
Compare /ʒ/ and /ʃ/:
![]()
|
/ʒ/…/ʃ/…/ʒ/…/ʃ/…/ʒ/…/ʃ/…
These are both alveo-palatal fricative consonants. However, /ʒ/ is voiced and /ʃ/ is voiceless. |
Practice hearing the difference between /ʒ/ and /ʃ/ by taking the quiz below.
Now, compare /ʒ/ and /dʒ/:
![]()
|
/ʒ/…/dʒ/…/ʒ/…/dʒ/…/ʒ/…/dʒ/…
These are both voiced, alveo-palatal consonants. However, /ʒ/ is a fricative and /dʒ/ is an affricate. For /dʒ/, the air in your mouth should stop before being released. |
Practice hearing the difference between /ʒ/ and /dʒ/ by taking the quiz below.
|
PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words:

words_with_-zh-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 611 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
1. genre
2. beige 3. massage 4. prestige 5. camouflage 6. casual 7. Asia 8. treasure 9. confusion 10. version |
11. conversion
12. decision 13. enclosure 14. usually 15. inclusion 16. measurement 17. television 18. erosion 19. invasion 20. casualty |
Now, practice /ʒ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
![]()
|
1. usually – television
I usually don’t watch much television. 2. casually – occasion Should I dress casually for this occasion? 3. collision – explosion The collision of the two airplanes caused an explosion. 4. measure – erosion It’s difficult to measure how much erosion has occurred. 5. pleasure – Asia It was a pleasure to visit my friends in Asia. 6. decision – confusion The president’s decision caused some confusion. |
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 do on a normal day? Look at the list below. Do you do each activity always, usually, or occasionally.
Prepare:
What do you do on a normal day? Look at the list below. Do you do each activity always, usually, or occasionally.
|
|
- Dress casually
- Eat a big breakfast
- Brush your teeth in the morning
- Ride the bus
- Have leisure time
- Talk to your family
- Watch television
- Spend time with friends
- Exercise
- Read for pleasure
Record:
In your recording, describe 2 things you usually do and 2 things you occasionally do. Explain what makes these things more frequent or less frequent.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.