-S Endings: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
How to pronounce plurals, third-person verbs and possessives.
The letter s at the end of a word can sound like /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/. The rule is simple, and it is the same for plurals (cats), verbs (works) and possessives (Kate’s).
One Rule, Three Sounds
The sound of the ending depends on the last sound of the word, not the last letter.
1/ɪz/ after hissing sounds
After /s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/, add a syllable: /ɪz/.
| Word | + s | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| bus | buses | /ˈbʌsɪz/ |
| rose | roses | /ˈrəʊzɪz/ |
| wish | wishes | /ˈwɪʃɪz/ |
| garage | garages | /ˈɡærɑːʒɪz/ |
| watch | watches | /ˈwɒtʃɪz/ |
| change | changes | /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/ |
2/s/ after voiceless sounds
After /p, t, k, f, θ/, the ending is a sharp /s/. No extra syllable.
| Word | + s | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| cup | cups | /kʌps/ |
| cat | cats | /kæts/ |
| book | books | /bʊks/ |
| laugh | laughs | /lɑːfs/ |
| month | months | /mʌnθs/ |
3/z/ after voiced sounds and vowels
After all other sounds, including every vowel, the ending is a voiced /z/. Feel the buzz.
| Word | + s | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| dog | dogs | /dɒɡz/ |
| pen | pens | /penz/ |
| car | cars | /kɑːz/ |
| play | plays | /pleɪz/ |
| tree | trees | /triːz/ |
| live | lives | /lɪvz/ |
The Same Rule Everywhere
Use the rule for all four types of -s ending.
| Type | /s/ | /z/ | /ɪz/ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plural nouns | shops, weeks | jobs, days | boxes, pages |
| Third-person verbs | works, helps | plays, goes | watches, uses |
| Possessive ’s | Kate’s, Mark’s | John’s, Anna’s | James’s, the boss’s |
| Short is / has | it’s, that’s | he’s, she’s | — |
Spelling Traps
Some words don’t follow the spelling you’d expect.
1-es without an extra syllable
-es only adds a syllable after a hissing sound. Otherwise the e is silent:
- likes /laɪks/
- goes /ɡəʊz/
- makes /meɪks/
- tomatoes /təˈmɑːtəʊz/
- lives /lɪvz/
2Words that change
| Word | -s form | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| say | says | /sez/, not /seɪz/ |
| do | does | /dʌz/, not /duːz/ |
| house | houses | /ˈhaʊzɪz/: the /s/ becomes /z/ |
| cloth | clothes | /kləʊðz/ |
| leaf, knife, wife | leaves, knives, wives | f becomes /v/, ending /z/ |
3Tip for German speakers
Tip: Because of German Auslautverhärtung, many German speakers say dogs like „docks“. Make the vowel a little longer and let the /z/ buzz: do-o-gz. And don’t forget the third-person -s: she works, he goes.
Practice Sentences
Say each sentence and mark every -s ending: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/.
- She watches films and plays the drums on Tuesdays.
- My boss’s office has two desks, three lamps and lots of boxes.
- He works, studies and goes to classes in the evenings.
- The buses and trains are late, so James’s meetings start at ten.
- It’s raining, and the dogs’ dishes are full of leaves.
Check Yourself
Decide which ending you hear, then open the answer.
-
watches: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
Show answer
/ɪz/: after /tʃ/
-
stops: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
Show answer
/s/: after voiceless /p/
-
plays: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
Show answer
/z/: after a vowel sound
-
changes: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
Show answer
/ɪz/: after /dʒ/
-
months: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
Show answer
/s/: after voiceless /θ/
-
lives (verb): /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?
Show answer
/z/: after voiced /v/
-
How many syllables does likes have?
Show answer
One: /laɪks/. The e is silent.
-
How do you say says?
Show answer
/sez/, with the vowel of bed.
Keep Practising
Related pages in the Pronunciation Studio.
Listen to the Last Sound
Hissing sound? Add a syllable. Voiceless sound? A sharp /s/. Everything else? A buzzing /z/. One rule for plurals, verbs and possessives.
/ɪz/ · /s/ · /z/
Pronunciation Studio Book a lesson