/s/

The /s/ sound in English is a voiceless alveolar sibilant, which means it’s a sound made by directing a stream of air with the tongue towards the sharp edge of the teeth, without any vocal cord vibration. Here’s how you pronounce it:

• Position your tongue: For the /s/ sound, your tongue should be close to the upper alveolar ridge (the bumpy ridge behind your upper front teeth). The tip of your tongue should be lowered just enough so that air can flow above it and out of your mouth.
• Voicing: The /s/ sound is a voiceless consonant, meaning your vocal cords do not vibrate when you produce this sound. You should not feel any vibration if you lightly touch the front of your throat while saying the sound.
• Release the sound: As your tongue is positioned close to the alveolar ridge, direct a stream of air over the tongue and out of your mouth. The air should flow continuously, creating a hissing sound (like a snake).