Producing /s / z/

How to produce /s / z/

Both have the same tongue position. /s/ is voiceless (no throat buzz), /z/ is voiced (buzz on). At the end of a word, /z/ is shorter than many L2 speakers expect and /s/ often feels over-pronounced — but the voicing contrast still changes plurals, verb conjugations, and meaning ('rice' vs. 'rise').

Practice the sound in isolation

Say 'peace / peas' slowly. Hold the target sound. Record yourself — does it match your mental model of the native version?

A few varied words

• Initial: zoo, zero, zip
• Medial: easy, music, busy
• Final: peas, rise, please