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Beanbag Posted 20 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

the "s" sound in "pals" and in other plural forms of other nouns

0 Hello,02br
00In the word "pals", is the "s" pronounced as "s" or as "z"?02br
00Also what is the rule for pronouncing the "s" that comes in all othe plural nouns? For example:02br
00hawks02br
00pencils02br
00phones02br
00friends02br
00enemies02br
00rats02br
00papers02br
00spoons02br
02br
02br
00I wonder if it's a regional thing. In other words, do different countries pronounce it differently?02br
02br
00P.S. Is this the right section to post this question to? 0-
  

Top answer

02br 00 It's not a regional thing. The pronunciation of the pluralizing "s" is standard throughout the English-speaking world. The sound of the "s", as you point out, can be a true "s" sound or a "z" sound.

— CalifJim

  • 02br 00 It's not a regional thing.
  • The pronunciation of the pluralizing "s" is standard throughout the English-speaking world.
  • The sound of the "s", as you point out, can be a true "s" sound or a "z" sound.
  • 02br 02br 00 If the sound of "p", "t", "k", "f", or "th" (as in "thin") is the last sound before the written "s", then pronounce it as a true "s".
  • 02br 02br 00 In your list, for example, the words which have 01i 00p, t, k, f02i 00, or 01i 00th02i 00 sounds just before the final "s" are 01i 00hawks02i 00 and 01i 00rats02i 00, so pronounce final "s" in those words as a true "s" sound.
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3 Answers
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0 You're in the right place!02br
00 It's not a regional thing. The pronunciation of the pluralizing "s" is standard throughout the English-speaking world. The sound of the "s", as you point out, can be a true "s" sound or a "z" sound. And the only thing you need to know is which sound comes immediately before that final "s".02br
02br
00 If the sound of "p
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Hi, I also have the same problem. I am not sure which sounds -s and -z on words:

opens
rides
believes
goes

thanks,
Gj
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AnonymousHi, I also have the same problem. I am not sure which sounds -s and -z on words:

opens
rides
believes
goes

thanks,
Gj

Opens - Z
rides - Z
believes - Z
goes - Z

All Z sounds, because they all end with a voiced consonant, and "goes" ends with a vowel sound.
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