/tʃ/ vs /ʃ/: chair vs share
The explosive /tʃ/ and the continuous /ʃ/ separate chip/ship, watch/wash and cheap/sheep. French and Portuguese speakers often soften every /tʃ/ into /ʃ/.
- Medium impact
- 7 pairs
- Three voices
1 / 10
Which word do you hear?
See the difference
/tʃ/ begins with a complete tongue-stop (a hidden t) then releases; /ʃ/ flows from the first instant. You can stretch 'shhhh' forever, but 'ch' always pops.
tʃ
as in chair
- Lips
- Pushed forward, rounded
- Tongue
- Front of the tongue just behind the ridge
- Voice
- Off: only air
- Air
- Stopped, then released slowly with friction
ʃ
as in share
- Lips
- Pushed forward, rounded
- Tongue
- Front of the tongue just behind the ridge
- Voice
- Off: only air
- Air
- Squeezed through a narrow gap
All 7 pairs
In a sentence
Hardest for speakers of
Questions
What is the difference between chair and share?
chair /tʃeə/ uses the /tʃ/ sound while share /ʃeə/ uses /ʃ/. /tʃ/ begins with a complete tongue-stop (a hidden t) then releases; /ʃ/ flows from the first instant. You can stretch 'shhhh' forever, but 'ch' always pops.
Which learners find the /tʃ/ vs /ʃ/ contrast hardest?
It is most challenging for French, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Greek speakers, whose first languages don't separate these two sounds.