151 Go to /s/ Worksheet Go to /z/ Worksheet Go to: How to Pronounce “s” /s/ “fussy” vs /z/ “fuzzy” Comparison
Both sounds are made with the blade of the tongue very close to the gum ridge and the jaw fairly closed. The tongue tip can be up or down. Compare the differences below:
Watch Video Lesson
When practising sounds: 1. FEEL (what can you feel your muscles doing?) 2. HEAR (listen to the audio tracks and use the hand-phone to listen to yourself)
/s/ “fussy”
Spelling Patterns Go to: How to Pronounce “s”
FEEL
Stronger sound (=more muscular energy)
More air is pushed out
Voiceless sound. Your larynx (=voice box) never vibrates.
HEAR
Stronger sound (=more muscular energy)
Weaker sound (=less muscular energy)
Less air pushed out
This sound is voiced (= larynx vibrates) when between other voiced sounds.
Weaker sound (=less muscular energy)
/z/ “fuzzy”
Minimal pairs are words that sound the same apart from one sound. The only difference between fussy /fʌsi/ and fuzzy /fʌzi/ is the consonant sound.
Comparison Words (minimal pairs in the order /s/ - /z/) 1 fussy - fuzzy
2 racing - raising 4 sip – zip
3 looser – loser1 5 sown - zone 7 face - phase 6 peace – peas 8 spice – spies
