Pronunciation of Final -s / -es

The final -s or -es in a word is pronounced in three different ways:

  1. [s] as in cats
  2. [z] as in dogs
  3. [əz] as in wishes

Pronounce the final –s as /s/ following a voiceless sound.

Pronounce the final –s as /z/ following a voiced sound.

Pronounce the final –s / –es as /əz/ following sibilants (s, z, sh, zh, ch, j).

Test your knowledge

Directions: Choose the best pronunciation for –s / –es in each word. (10 problems)