Pronunciation · Minimal pairs · high functional load
/s/ vs /ʃ/: see vs she
In short
The sharp /s/ and the hushed /ʃ/ separate sip/ship, seat/sheet and save/shave. It is a high-functional-load contrast that also affects grammar words like 'she' and 'sure'. This contrast carries a HIGH functional load, confusing these two sounds frequently turns one real word into another, which is what actually damages intelligibility (Munro & Derwing 2006 found one high-load error hurts comprehensibility more than three low-load errors combined).
How to hear (and make) the difference
For /ʃ/ pull the tongue slightly back and round your lips a little, like shushing a child. /s/ keeps the lips spread and the tongue further forward; feel the hiss move.
Most challenging for Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Japanese, Greek speakers.
8 minimal pairs with audio
- seesiːsheʃiː
- sipsɪpshipʃɪp
- seatsiːtsheetʃiːt
- sortsɔːtshortʃɔːt
- saveseɪvshaveʃeɪv
- selfselfshelfʃelf
- massmæsmashmæʃ
- signsaɪnshineʃaɪn
Test your ear
Listening drill
/s/ vs /ʃ/: see vs she
For /ʃ/ pull the tongue slightly back and round your lips a little, like shushing a child. /s/ keeps the lips spread and the tongue further forward; feel the hiss move.
The contrast in sentences
Take a seat.
Take a sheet.
He needs to save.
He needs to shave.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between see and she?
see /siː/ uses the /s/ sound while she /ʃiː/ uses /ʃ/. For /ʃ/ pull the tongue slightly back and round your lips a little, like shushing a child. /s/ keeps the lips spread and the tongue further forward; feel the hiss move.
Which learners find the /s/ vs /ʃ/ contrast hardest?
It is most challenging for Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Japanese, Greek speakers, whose first languages don't separate these two sounds.