PRACTICE IPA

Unit 16: It’s the wrong size, isn’t it? /s/ and /z/

Posted by Henry Tran
Comments Off on Unit 16: It’s the wrong size, isn’t it? /s/ and /z/

A. How to make the sound /s/

Look at the diagram. Listen and say the sound. There is some contact between the tongue and the teeth at the sides of the mouth. There is no voicing (vibration from the throat). Target sound: /sssss/

B. Sound and spelling

/s/ is usually spelled s, ss or c, and sometimes sc. Listen and
say these words.

  • sit: /sɪt/
  • sister: /ˈsɪs.tər/
  • bus: /bʌs/
  • class: /klæs/
  • city: /ˈsɪt.i/
  • science: /ˈsaɪ.əns/
  • glasses: /ˈɡlæs.ɪz/
  • circle: /ˈsɜːr.kəl/
  • pencil: /ˈpen.səl/
  • place: /pleɪs/
  • police: /pəˈliːs/
  • pronounce: /prəˈnaʊns/
  • scissors: /ˈsɪz.ərz/

The letter x is usually pronounced /ks/. Listen and say these words.

  • six: /sɪks/
  • next: /nekst/

Listen and say these sentences:

  1. summer in the city /ˈsʌm.ər ɪn ðə ˈsɪt.i/
  2. Have you seen my glasses? /həv ju siːn maɪ ˈɡlæs.ɪz/
  3. So, I’ll see you in the same place next Saturday. /soʊ | aɪl siː ju ɪn ðə seɪm pleɪs nekst ˈsæt̬.ər.deɪ/
  4. I saw your sister on the bus yesterday. /aɪ sɔː jər ˈsɪs.tər ɑːn ðə bʌs ˈjes.tər.deɪ/
  5. My science lessons were the most interesting. /maɪ ˈsaɪ.əns ˈles.ənz wər ðə moʊst ˈɪn.trə.stɪŋ/

C. How to make the sound /z/

Look at the diagram. Listen and say the sound. There is some contact between the tongue and the teeth at the sides of the mouth. /z/ is diferent from /s/ because there is voicing (vibration from the throat). Target sound: /zzzzz/

D. Sound and spelling

/z/ is usually spelled s or z, and sometimes ss or z. Listen and say these words.

  • gives: /ɡɪvz/
  • sisters: /ˈsɪs.tərz/
  • easy: /ˈiː.zi/
  • husband: /ˈhʌz.bənd/
  • roses: /ˈroʊ.zɪz/
  • zoo: /zuː/
  • zero: /ˈzɪr.oʊ/
  • size: /saɪz/
  • scissors: /ˈsɪz.ərz/
  • jazz: /dʒæz/

Listen and say these phrases and sentences:

  1. What time does the zoo close? /wɑːt taɪm dʌz ðə zuː kloʊz/
  2. My favourite music is jazz. /maɪ ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪt ˈmjuː.zɪk ɪz dʒæz/
  3. Really? Well, it’s always interesting, but it isn’t always easy to listen to. /ˈrɪə.li | wel | ɪts ˈɔːl.weɪz ˈɪn.trə.stɪŋ | bʌt ɪt ˈɪz.ənt ˈɔːl.weɪz ˈiː.zi tə ˈlɪs.ən tuː/
  4. Roses are my favourite flowers. /ˈroʊ.zɪz ər maɪ ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪt ˈflaʊ.ərz/