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The -s, -es, -'s ending pronunciation
Using the -s, -es, 's ending
There are four purposes for adding -s, -es, or 's to a word:
- To create a plural noun (cats)
- To conjugate a verb (snows)
- To show possession (coach's, coaches')
- To create a contraction (coach's meaning coach is or coach has)
Note that 's can signal noun possession and the contracted form of the words is and has in spoken English. Sentence context must be used to discern whether coach's means that the coach owns something or that it is a contraction of coach is or coach has. The pronunciation is the same whether the apostrophe is signaling a single owner (coach's) or many owners (coaches').
To simplify this pronunciation lesson, only the apostrophe s ('s) spelling is being used.
Pronunciation of -s, -es, 's endings
No matter the purpose or spelling of the -s, -es, 's ending, the pronunciation guidelines are the same. In English, the -s, -es, 's ending has three possible pronunciations:
1: -s, -es, 's ending pronounced as /ɪz/
Pronounce the -s, -es, 's ending as as /ɪz/ when the final sound before the addition of the -s, -es, 's ending is any of the following:
1. /s/ 's sound': misses
2. /z/ 'z sound': causes
3. /ʧ/ 'ch sound': watches
4. /ʤ/ 'j sound': changes
5. /ʃ/ 'sh sound': wishes
6. /ʒ/ 'zh sound': garages
2: -s, -es, 's ending pronounced as /s/
When the final sound of the word is an unvoiced sound (except the sounds listed for pattern #1), the -s, -es, 's ending is pronounced as /s/. An unvoiced sound does not use the vocal cords during its production. Besides the sounds listed for #1, English has only five other unvoiced sounds that occur at the end of a word:
1. /p/ 'p sound': stops
2. /k/ 'k sound': looks
3. /t/ 't sound': cats
4. /θ/ 'unvoiced th': Earth's
5. /f/ 'f sound': laughs
3: -s, -es, 's ending pronounced as /z/
When the final sound of the word is a voiced sound (except the sounds listed for pattern #1), the -s, -es, 's ending is pronounced as /z/. A voiced sound uses the vocal cords during its production. Since all vowel sounds are voiced, there are far more voiced sounds in English than unvoiced sounds. Besides the sounds listed for pattern #1, English has 10 other voiced consonant sounds that occur at the end of a word:
1. /b/ 'b sound': describes
2. /g/ 'g sound': begs
3. /d/ 'd sound': words
4. /ð/ 'voiced th': bathes
5. /v/ 'v sound': loves
6. /l/ 'l sound': calls
7. /r/ 'r sound': cures
8. /m/ 'm sound': dreams
9. /n/ 'n sound/: rains
10. /ŋ/ 'ng sound': belongs
Example -s, -es, 's use in context
The -s, 's, and s' in the word dogs is pronounced identically in all four sentences below. The context of the sentence is necessary to comprehend the meaning of the -s, 's, and s'.
1. The dogs were barking all night long. (plural)
2. The dogs' collars should be replaced. (plural possessive)
3. The dog's sleeping in the bed again. (dog is)
4. The dog's been good and deserves a treat. (dog has)