How to Pronounce Words with '-s' Endings - American English Pronunciation

Did you know that in English the '-s' ending is pronounced as the /s/ sound only in one word out of four? Most of the time, it should be pronounced as /z/, but many non-native speakers still use the voiceless /s/ sound. That's a very common pronunciation mistake.
In this video, you'll find out about the rules for pronunciation of the '-s' and '-es' endings and practice them in words. As always, all pronunciation exercises and instructions are recorded by a professional speech therapist.
Check out our website: soundsamerican.net/
Quick Links:
• Intro 00:00
• Overview: 00:54
• Rules for '-es' ending:
• the 's' ending is pronounced as /ɪz/: 01:44
• the '-s' ending is pronounced as /s/: 02:08
• the '-s' ending is pronounced as /z/: 02:21
• Pronunciation exercise 1: 03:34
• Pronunciation exercise 2: 06:25
• Collective nouns, names of groups of animals: 08:25
Related Videos:
► Consonant Sound /s/ as in "sun"
• Consonant Sound / s / ...
► Consonant Sound /z/ as in "zoo" - American English Pronunciation
• Consonant Sound / z / ...
► Vowel Sound /ɪ/ as in "it"- American English Pronunciation
• Vowel Sound / ɪ / as i...
[THIS VIDEO HAS ENGLISH, JAPANESE, VIETNAMESE, AND PORTUGUESE SUBTITLES]
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TRANSCRIPT
Hello there! This is the "Sounds American" channel.
In this video, we're going to learn how to pronounce '-s' endings.
Take a look at these four words:
• cat
• dog
• zebra
• horse
Now let's make them plural. Listen to how the '-s' ending is pronounced:
• cats
• dogs
• zebras
• horses
Did you notice any differences? In these examples, the '-s' ending is pronounced three different ways.
Why? Well, because these are different animals. :)
Just kidding.:) The pronunciation of the '-s' ending depends on the sound it follows.
Take a look.
1. the '-s' ending is pronounced as /s/ after the voiceless consonant /t/ in the word "cats."
2. the '-s' ending is pronounced as /z/ after the voiced consonant /g/ in the word "dogs" and after the vowel /ə/ in the word "zebras."
3. And finally, the 's' ending is pronounced as /ɪz/ after the /s/ sound in the word "horses."
It may sound complicated, but it's really not. There's actually a rule.
• All you need to do is check the sound before the '-s' ending.
• If it's one of the following sounds: /s/ /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, or /dʒ/, then the '-s' ending is pronounced as /ɪz/.
The rest of the time, it works like this:
• If the sound before the '-s' ending is a voiceless consonant, then the '-s' is pronounced as /s/.
If the sound before the 's' ending is a voiced consonant or a vowel, then the 's' is pronounced as /z/.
There's one more thing you'll need to know about this rule.
Let's return to the word "horse." It's pronounced with the final /s/ sound. The letter "e" at the end is silent. But when it's plural, the "e" is pronounced as a part of the ending: horses.
Here is another example:
The word "fox" also ends with the /s/ sound, but it doesn't have the silent letter "e" at the end.
So its plural is formed by the ending "-es" that's pronounced as /ɪz/: foxes.
As you may have guessed, this works for words that end with the sounds /s/ /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, or /dʒ/.
[Pronunciation exercise 1]
Now, let's practice these rules one by one. It'll help you learn them faster.
You'll see a word on the screen and hear its pronunciation. Like this.
You'll have a few seconds to pronounce the word. Repeat each word after the speaker.
Let's begin.
• backs
• days
• branches
• boots
• evenings
• buses
• folks
• fires
• classes
• lights
• flowers
• edges
• looks
• friends
• faxes
• parts
• knives
• glasses
• plants
• names
• inches
• points
• potatoes
• languages
• products
• scissors
• noises
• scientists
• towns
• washes
[Pronunciation exercise 2]
Now let's practice random words with '-s' endings. When you see a word on the screen, try and remember which rule applies.
• earth's
• teardrops
• sounds
• socks
• elements
• turns
• places
• catches
• eats
• sees
• syllables
• passes
• loves
• teaches
• notices
• Don's
• boxes
• gives
You're done! Congratulations!
The '-s' ending rule applies not only to plural nouns, but also possessives and verbs in the third person singular Present Simple tense.
Let's go back to our animals.
We've already made them plural.
Consider what they may be called when they're in a group. Take a look.
• A clowder of cats
• A pack of dogs
• A herd of zebras
• A team of horses
Awesome, isn't it? We're most certainly NOT going to cover this topic in our next videos.
Let us know if you LIKED this video!
Share this video with your friends, pets, and relatives! Don't forget to subscribe and stay tuned on our Sounds American channel!

[@SoundsAmerican]

🎉Great news!🎉 Our brand new Sounds American website is up and running!🚀🎊 There's lots of content on pronunciation.🤓 Check it out: soundsamerican.net/

[@user-de9zf8ny2t]

I like your joke "Well, because they’re different animals"😂😂😂 at the beginning of the video. Keep it up!😉

[@SoundsAmerican]

😉🖖

[@camilag4243]

"because they are different animals" jajajajaj that was funny, btw I love the clarity you have to explain things. Thank you from Colombia.

[@BorisNVM]

it's awesome that there's no exceptions for this rule.

[@chatonsacrement7454]

8:08 During the practice I was wondering about the verbs. That's so attentive. Thank you so much!

[@SoundsAmerican]

There's a typo in this video. Leave us a comment if you find it!😜

[@marquitomd]

It's at the end of the video. A group of zebras is a herd, not a heard. What have I won for finding it? :D hahahaha

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Marquito L Yes! Correct. We need your email address, can you send a short note to [e-mail] address?

[@marquitomd]

@@SoundsAmerican Sure!

[@RayBan.stories]

I found it too. A herd of zebraz, a pack of wolvez, a great team of soundsamericans!

[@tonneto6585]

Sounds American what is this app ?!

[@alexsalychev9324]

That's a really helpful lesson! I've referred to it so many times to review this topic! Thank you, guys!

[@SoundsAmerican]

👍 This is so great, happy to hear it was helpful! Let us know if you have any questions. 👋

[@JuanGarcia-gc8gx]

good job. I am improving my pronunciation a lot. It is a hard work, however, guys like you make the learn English process easily. I am your fan.

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Juan Garcia Glad to hear about your progress! Thanks for being with us!😊🖖

[@heliotropeness]

I loved this video, many thanks!

[@Teti_K]

It's so helpful! Thank you a lot ❗

[@callmez55]

I found this video is very helpful compared to other videos I found so far. I hope you can do -ed sound too. I got stuck on this subject. Btw thanks for the video

[@articulodeterminado]

The use of the magnifying glass is awesome !

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Alejandro García Vidal Muchas gracias mi amigo! Your comment made our designer totally happy! 😜👋

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Thanks bud! Nice refresher! 😀

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I am so proud of you with all my heart

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I loved listening American sounds.

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[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you enjoy it!

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I love this vídeo class. I enjoyed it! Thank you so much!

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Gerardo Martinez Great, glad to hear that! You're welcome!

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[@SoundsAmerican]

+Luis Manuel Baez Thank you for staying with us! Stay tuned for more videos!

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[@Ratlacute]

You saved my life, I had learned this sound for a long time, but It didn't work, and now thanks to this video, I can pronounce it. Thank you

[@SoundsAmerican]

Very glad to hear this! Let us know if you have any questions!

[@dieuanhnguyen2675]

OMG! That's exactly what I've been looking for. Love itttt.

[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you like it!

[@vladtaranenko1997]

Thank for the really useful video! Also, it's designed very well!

[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you like it!

[@fangpeter9386]

Good to know that rule. That is useful.

[@dulcemarina9863]

wow !!! thanks a lot for this beautiful video, it helped me a lot !!! the way you explain is amazing !!!

[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad it helped!

[@normaquesada7307]

really clear explanation!! thanks

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Norma Quesada Glad to hear that! You're welcome!

[@marcoantoniomoralescruz2645]

A difficult rule for my students. However, I always pronunce the correct sound and they imitates them. They do tell me I pronounce with a different accent than their former teachers.

[@user-je7uh2jh7i]

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[@SoundsAmerican]

+Артем Ярема Glad you like them! You're welcome and stay tuned for our new videos!

[@user-dx2wz9tt8i]

a great lecture😍👍

[@jalolaliyev7131]

thanks so much

[@saidfarid6382]

Hello professor Thank you so much for your priceless advice and interesting guidance. I really appreciate your job. I wish you peace and happiness under the sky of prosperity. Your follower from Algeria.

[@SoundsAmerican]

Thank you!

[@jalolaliyev7131]

thanks teacher

[@angelicagonzalez4291]

I've completely loved this video. I loved the "application" style.

[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you liked it! We actually used our own application for the exercise part.

[@angelicagonzalez4291]

@@SoundsAmerican Is it available for us? I tried to look for it but I couldn't find it.

[@SoundsAmerican]

We haven't released it yet, but we plan to do it soon. We'll announce the release on this channel, so please stay tuned!

[@angelicagonzalez4291]

@@SoundsAmerican Thank you!

[@ShutupNKissme]

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[@SoundsAmerican]

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[@deborasantos3488]

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[@SoundsAmerican]

👍👋

[@fakerbenbelgacem6164]

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Thanks teacher!

[@SoundsAmerican]

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[@SoundsAmerican]

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[@SoundsAmerican]

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I do. Thanks.

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[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you like it!

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[@SoundsAmerican]

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Thank you so much for your teachings I am really hoping by then I will be able to read write and pronoun

[@SoundsAmerican]

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[@SoundsAmerican]

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Beautiful 👏👏

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Alhussein Ali Glad you liked it!😊👋

[@marquitomd]

I thought I should always pronounce the /s/ sound at the end of words. Good info! Thank you. The rule is great, I won't forget it 👏👏

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Marquito L Good to know that this is helpful!

[@alexandrafanasyev734]

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[@SoundsAmerican]

We'll resume posting our videos soon, please, stay tuned!

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[@SoundsAmerican]

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[@javieremiliolorenzo9397]

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[@SoundsAmerican]

Always welcome!

[@nganhanguyenang2841]

so good!!!

[@lalaliberte]

Love this video so much! Wondering why you don't have one for -ed endings.

[@SoundsAmerican]

Maybe one day!

[@semsopheapsem1627]

Dear teacher, thanks for all of your useful and vivid videos. I have been not sure how to connect a word with two or three syllable smoothly. For example, flower which is pronounced in IPA I have not seen W in phonic. There are only two vowels.

[@SoundsAmerican]

There's no /w/ sound in the word "flower," it's pronounced as /ˈflaʊ·ɚ/.

[@sunderverma5018]

Thanks!

[@SoundsAmerican]

+sunder verma You're welcome!

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[@SoundsAmerican]

You're very welcome!👋

[@expeculeshiont.v3109]

I like your videos....!!!! There are amazing.. 'Cause I learn how to pronounce correctly... Thanks.

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Expeculeshion T.V Glad to hear that! :)

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Thx a million :)

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[@SoundsAmerican]

😉😊👋

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شكراً جزيلا

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Fateh Hamidi You're welcome!😊👋

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I love them

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Amazing video. 🙏

[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you liked it!

[@josdan1379]

Nice video, good information.

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Josdan You're welcome! Glad you liked it!

[@danerymiron7506]

Great video, I really appreciate your job. It’s there anyway you could help me with the -ed- ending pronunciation? I found it hard to pronounce it. Thanks a lot

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Lenny Noé Mirón Salazar Glad you liked it! Yes, sure, we'll make a video on the '-ed' endings too! Stay tuned!

[@carlosarturobetancur7256]

Cordial saludo desde Colombia... gracias por sus videos !!👏👏👏 Pregunta: Cuando la terminación “se” al finals de las palabras toma el fonema /s/ y cuando toma el fonema /z/ ?

[@Ivan_Saul]

I don't how to thank you! This video is so helpful! Million thanks! I had a presentation last Thursday and I did it great thanks these videos! I mean, I felt quite confident while speaking! Could you explain the dark L? Please :D Dark L sounds like The Dark Knight jajaja Saludos :D

[@SoundsAmerican]

+ Saúl Iván The fact that you felt and did better at your presentation is the greatest compliment you could make us. We're happy to hear that! Yes, the dark L video will be published in several weeks. :)

[@Ivan_Saul]

@@SoundsAmerican Yeah, I feel more confident and fluent now! Sometimes it's hard when I have to read something outloud. However, I've noticed an improvement in my speaking thanks to you guys, so thank you! Oh, I see... It's just a matter of waiting for it BTW, I couldn't find any misspelling, give me a clue, please Jajaja ;)

[@FCMTutoriais]

Amazing video

[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you liked it!

[@jamesstmanhattan]

Good looks sons! You've bodied it!

[@SoundsAmerican]

+First Last 😊👋

[@Sciencenerd2704]

It’s so hard to remember all those rules. I mean it’s also very hard to distiguish the difference between them in daily conversations so I would just go with the flow

[@1DENich1]

I just have found I'd mispronounced the endings "es" (like in "horses"). I used to say [...es] instead of [...iz]. Thanks for improving me))

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Денис Василевский You're welcome! Glad this video was helpful!😊

[@pmm7808]

You are the best

[@sacton2264]

Thanks -- good video which I'll share with my students as a review. FYI, a HERD of zebras is misspelled at the end (as 'heard').

[@user-fn5bw8nm4h]

Nice❤

[@PedroMartins-ws5ju]

This is insane lol i've been speaking english since always and never noticed these nuances in pronunciation.

[@lorenzorecio165]

0:47 Loved this 😂😂😂

[@TrangNguyen-ch3fp]

I got it, thanks. Now challenge me any word 😍

[@SoundsAmerican]

👋

[@morniechan]

This is exactly what i am looking for!love you so much!but im a little confused how to pronounce "ts", "ds"and "ths"

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Daisy Chan Good! You're welcome! We'll make videos on 'ts,' etc., stay tuned!

[@watchmakerful]

And explain please how to pronounce SIXTHS and similar words with alternating S and TH sounds.

[@sonhoangduc8184]

I have the same problem. It's so hard to pronounce and distinguish those.

[@SoundsAmerican]

Sure, we will. Thank you for your suggestion!

[@morniechan]

@@sonhoangduc8184 i am confused too hope the youtuber can make a video to explain these.

[@user-id1bv9tc7b]

Awsome 👏🏻👍👍👍👍👍

[@SoundsAmerican]

Thanks 🤗

[@rarevisitor1250]

Before watching this video I'd like to say thank you for this

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Rare Visitor 😊🖖 Hope to hear from you after you watch it too! 👋

[@rarevisitor1250]

@@SoundsAmerican I like when there are rules for any topics, you make it easier to understand. Thanks a lot again! darrrk L please

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Rare Visitor It's also much easier for us to make the videos when there are rules :), it doesn't happen often in English :). You're welcome! Yes, we'll make the Dark L video, stay tuned!

[@steveduarte6752]

Should I pronounce the /z/ when the next word starts with an /s/ and vice versa? These super interesting ones. This zebra is mine. How do I link those two sounds? Thank you

[@Clarke.Beatriz.Griffin]

Hi, I love your video! Could you tell me wish aplication you used for the exercise?

[@SoundsAmerican]

This app is not publicly available yet. We'll announce the release on this channel, so please stay tuned! In the meantime, there are lots of practice exercises on our website: soundsamerican.net.

[@truongthiminhngoc8755]

Tbh when listening to native speakers, i don't see a huge difference when they pronounce "s" or "z" after plural nouns, all kinda sound like "s". Do i not hear people clearly or they really just pronounce "s" for all when making daily conversations? Thank you for such amazing videos and i really love what you guys doing ♥

[@SoundsAmerican]

Thank you! Do you hear the difference between the final /s/ and /z/ sounds in this video? We tried to make this practice exercise as close to a daily conversation as it can get. So, if you listen to it really closely, you'll hear that the endings are not the same.

[@truongthiminhngoc8755]

@@SoundsAmerican you are amazing, Sounds American team!

[@yenanhtran4953]

I love the videos from Sound American, I use Elsa speak to practice word lists from Sound American, but it is difficult for me with /s/ /z/ (because my mother languages put them behind the teeth) /dʒ/ /ʒ/ /b/. I can't make voiced sounds. :(

[@SoundsAmerican]

How are we doing with Elsa speak? :) What is the main difficulty with voiced sounds?

[@gader7121]

I'm really like your videos because they're helpful for learning pronunciation. I'm wondering what application you use in videos? How I can download the application?

[@SoundsAmerican]

We're using our own app, but we haven't released it to the public yet. We're planning to do it very soon and we'll announce the release on this channel. Stay tuned!

[@mylearningjournal7188]

3 rules got it , Thank You for making this video. Is that any rules for pronouncing Verb + ed sometimes pronounce as /t/ sometimes pronounce as /d/ and somtimes /ɪd/

[@mylearningjournal7188]

come back to review. I don't want to forget this

[@kashifalikhan5124]

Nice video sir

[@SoundsAmerican]

+Kashif Ali Khan Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@masanorimurata1908]

Thak you very. Every day I am listening to this programa beforr my office hour. This occasion es second time I am watching these videos. I have one question about the "cats". Between the sounds, ¨p, t, k f, Ɵ", conversión to "s". I listen to the sounds of "cats" as affricate sound ʧ, not fricative sound. Can you teach me my feeling of the difference of this sound "cats" and "pipes". P.S. I am a japanese native speaker, there are many affricate sounds in Japanese and I am living in Mexico City 25 years.

[@Junior_89ryly]

Hi! What app do you use to practice pronunciation of words?

[@aguilarcast]

Thanks a lot for your video. By the way, there's a typo at 8:37 , a heard of zebras should be a herd.

[@SoundsAmerican]

Yes, you're right, there's a typo in that word.

[@AftabAlam-tq5uv]

Nice video

[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you liked it!

[@techhelp4847]

Your videos are really interesting and fruitful. I love it. But it would be easy if you show your mouth when you pronounce those IPA. Thank y

[@SoundsAmerican]

We have the illustrations for the /s/, /z/, and /ɪ/ sounds in these videos, check them out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJm6gYuXhb2lpLM kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaqae5tvd8edqtU kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZzCeXpjZdGBeaM

[@finalholylin2388]

But it only gets more confusing when native speakers always know the rule but actually perversely utter z like s sound or sometimes ts sound. or It's just me to be wondered?

[@SoundsAmerican]

+finalholy lin No, native speakers don't pronounce /z/ as the /s/ or /ts/ sounds. Devoicing the /z/ into the /s/ is actually one of the most common mistakes that non-native English speakers do. You might accidentally hear the /s/ instead of the /z/, but it happens since your ear expects to hear a devoiced sound and you may not recognize the /z/. If you practice listening to native speakers pronouncing the words with the /z/ sounds and repeating after them, you'll train your ear to recognize the /z/ sound correctly and you'll learn to pronounce this sound. It takes time, but this is the only way to make progress.

[@cecilia-kc4pv]

Hey there, thank you so much for the video. It's very useful. Can you tell me words ending with "w" how they are pronounced?

[@SoundsAmerican]

Great question! Remember that this rule is based on sounds, not letters. There's no words ending in the /w/ sound in English (as far as we know).

[@cecilia-kc4pv]

@@SoundsAmerican thank you so much.

[@winfredmakena9313]

Have you done a video for pronouncing words ending in "on" like onion? Refer me to it please

[@justdonotdoit]

Hey, Sounds American, thanks for this awesome video! Looks like you were using an app... there is just a great design or this app really exists? If so, I would like to try it. Thanks.

[@SoundsAmerican]

Glad you liked our video! Yes, we were using an app. This is our own app, but we haven't released it to the public yet. We're planning to do it very soon and we'll announce the release on this channel. Stay tuned!

[@justdonotdoit]

@@SoundsAmerican glad to hear... I'll be here when you launch it. BTW, if you need one more beta tester, count on me. Thanks!

[@SoundsAmerican]

Great, will do! Thank you!

[@shirogodotaku7965]

I do it!

[@SoundsAmerican]

Great!

[@joelinotv1314]

Esto se llama un video bacano! Gracias por la clases salí de la ignoracia respecto a la pronunciacion plural en Inglés.

[@SoundsAmerican]

😊👋

[@ngannguyen-lt9ri]

Are you from France? ???

[@AlvaroALorite]

What software did you use to animate this? It's beautiful

[@SoundsAmerican]

Do you mean the videos? It's Adobe After Effects.

[@AlvaroALorite]

@@SoundsAmerican yes, that's what I meant, thank you.

[@randomdude7384]

Do native speakers of the American version of English ever use the /s/ sound instead of the /z/ sound when phonetically there should be the /z/ at the end of words? Because sometimes it appears as they do.

[@SoundsAmerican]

No, never. Pronouncing the /s/ instead of the /z/ sound is one of the typical mistakes. It may seem like the /s/ due to some slight aspiration, but native speakers clearly recognize it as the voiced /z/ sound.