How to Pronounce -S and -ES Endings in English
Do you say “books,” “dogs,” and “watches” the same way? Many English learners look only at the spelling, but English pronunciation depends on the final sound before the ending.
In this lesson, you will learn the three ending sounds: /s/, /z/, and /ɪz/.
The most important rule is this:
Do not look only at the spelling. Listen to the final sound before the ending.
For plural nouns and present simple verbs, -s and -es can sound like /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/.
The 3 Pronunciation Rules for -S and -ES
| Ending Sound | Use It After | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| /s/ | Quiet / voiceless sounds | books, cups, cats, cliffs |
| /z/ | Voiced sounds and vowels | dogs, pens, days, rooms |
| /ɪz/ | Hissing sounds | boxes, wishes, watches, classes |
Simple memory rule: quiet sound = /s/, vibrating sound = /z/, hissing sound = /ɪz/.
Rule 1: Use /s/ After Quiet Sounds
Use /s/ when the final sound before the ending is quiet or voiceless. Your throat does not vibrate.
Common final sounds: /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/
Examples:
book → books
cup → cups
cat → cats
cliff → cliffs
month → months
Practice these sentences slowly:
1. I bought three books for class.
2. She has two cats and five cups.
3. The months passed quickly.
4. The chefs prepared snacks.
5. My classmates wrote notes.
Rule 2: Use /z/ After Voiced Sounds and Vowels
Use /z/ when the final sound before the ending is voiced. This means your throat vibrates.
You also use /z/ after vowel sounds.
Examples:
day → days
job → jobs
bag → bags
school → schools
room → rooms
pen → pens
car → cars
Practice these sentences:
1. My friends have good ideas.
2. The dogs chased the balls.
3. Teachers open doors for students.
4. The rooms have windows.
5. We discussed goals and plans.
Rule 3: Use /ɪz/ After Hissing Sounds
Use /ɪz/ when the word ends with a hissing sound.
Common trigger sounds:
/s/
/z/
/sh/
/zh/
/ch/
/j/
This ending adds an extra syllable.
Examples:
bus → buses
box → boxes
wish → wishes
watch → watches
bridge → bridges
class → classes
The sound /ɪz/ is short, like “ihz.” Do not make it too long like “eez.”
Practice these sentences:
1. She watches English videos.
2. He fixes old phones.
3. The teacher gives three quizzes.
4. The city has many bridges.
5. Our class discusses life choices.
Common Mistakes English Learners Make
Mistake 1: Adding an extra syllable to every plural word.
Wrong: book-es
Correct: books /bʊks/
Mistake 2: Saying every ending as /s/.
Wrong: dog-s
Correct: dogs /dɔgz/
Mistake 3: Looking only at spelling.
The spelling helps, but the final sound is more important.
Mini Quiz: Choose /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/
1. books
2. dogs
3. boxes
4. pens
5. cats
6. wishes
7. jobs
8. watches
9. cups
10. classes
Answers:
1. books = /s/
2. dogs = /z/
3. boxes = /ɪz/
4. pens = /z/
5. cats = /s/
6. wishes = /ɪz/
7. jobs = /z/
8. watches = /ɪz/
9. cups = /s/
10. classes = /ɪz/
Speaking Practice: Read Aloud
Read each sentence three times.
First time: slowly.
Second time: normal speed.
Third time: natural English speed.
1. I read books and take notes.
2. My friends watch English videos.
3. She teaches classes on weekends.
4. The dogs run through the rooms.
5. He fixes phones and sells watches.
6. The students discuss their goals.
Homework
Write 15 words with -s or -es endings.
Put them into three groups:
Group 1: /s/
Group 2: /z/
Group 3: /ɪz/
Then write 5 sentences using your words.
Record yourself reading the sentences and listen for the final sounds.
Want a Clear English Study Plan?
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Related Lessons:
How to Pronounce -ED Endings in English
English Punctuation for A2-B2 Learners
Sentence Building for English Learners
Writing Techniques for B1-B2 English Learners