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S phoneme /s/
/s/ is a consonant phoneme that occurs in English. It’s one of the standard English phonemes.[1]
Naming[edit | edit source]
Like other phonemes, naming this phoneme can be difficult. It might be called S /es/, after its symbol and most common spelling. Alternatively, it could be lengthened to sss /s:/. It occurs twice in some words like sass, suss.
Classification[edit | edit source]
This can be classified as Consonant phoneme > Fricative phoneme > Sibilant phoneme.
Representation[edit | edit source]
In phonemic notation using the International Phonetic Alphabet, the S phoneme is represented by lowercase S, ⟨s⟩ as its IPA symbol. This has the IPA number 132. In SAMPA and X-SAMPA, s is also used. In IPA Braille, ⠎ (234) is used, which is also used for letter S in standard Braille.
Phonotactics[edit | edit source]
/s/ forms a part of numerous consonant clusters. The initial consonant clusters are:
- Initial consonant cluster /sl/, e.g. slow
- Initial consonant cluster /st/, e.g. stop
- Initial consonant cluster /sp/, e.g. spot
- Initial consonant cluster /sk/, e.g. sky
- Initial consonant cluster /sm/, e.g. smell
- Initial consonant cluster /sn/, e.g. snow
- Initial consonant cluster /sf/, e.g. sphere
The final consonant clusters are:
- Final consonant cluster /fs/
- Final consonant cluster /fts/
- Final consonant cluster /fθs/
- Final consonant cluster /k(s)θ/
- Final consonant cluster /ks/
- Final consonant cluster /kst/
- Final consonant cluster /ksts/
- Final consonant cluster /kts/
- Final consonant cluster /mps/
- Final consonant cluster /mpts/
- Final consonant cluster /nθs/
- Final consonant cluster /ps/
- Final consonant cluster /pts/
- Final consonant cluster /pθs/
- Final consonant cluster /sk/
- Final consonant cluster /sks/
- Final consonant cluster /skt/
- Final consonant cluster /sp/
- Final consonant cluster /sps/
- Final consonant cluster /spt/
- Final consonant cluster /st/
- Final consonant cluster /sts/
- Final consonant cluster /ts/
- Final consonant cluster /θs/
Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
Standard pronunciation of this is as a voiceless alveolar fricative [s]. Its presence at the start of initial consonant clusters causes the next phoneme to become voiced.
Lisping is a common speech impediment which native English speakers often have.
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling is ⟨s⟩, ⟨ss⟩, ⟨se⟩, ⟨c⟩, ⟨ce⟩, ⟨ps⟩, ⟨ces⟩ ⟨sw⟩
| Phonogram | Example words | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ⟨s⟩ | Sally, silly | |
| ⟨ss⟩ | miss, missed, missing | |
| ⟨c⟩ | ice, cinnamon, vaccinate | |
| ⟨ç⟩ | façade | |
| ⟨ce⟩ | choice, divorce, fierce, force, peace, piece, rejoice, niece, source, voice, dance, hence, lance, once, since, trance, thence, nuance | |
| ⟨cc⟩ | flaccid | |
| ⟨ces⟩ | Alcester, Bicester, Cirencester, Gloucester, Leicester, Towcester, Worcester | |
| ⟨sc⟩ | scenario, scene, scent, scimitar, scintillating, scissors, scythe, adolescent, ascend, descend, discern, discipline, fascinate, fluorescent, incandescent, miscellaneous, obscene, obsolescence, oscillate, transcendent | |
| ⟨sce⟩ | acquiesce, coalesce, convalesce, fluoresce, reminisce, phosphoresce | |
| ⟨ps⟩ | psalm, pseudoscience, psychology, etc. | |
| ⟨sw⟩ | answer, sword | |
| ⟨x⟩ as /ks/ | sex, six, Texas | |
| ⟨ts⟩ | tsunami |
