Sound: S and Z
z is voiced; s is not.
Examples
- bus / buzz
- price / prize
Key rules
- S is voiceless, with no vibration; z is voiced, with the vocal cords vibrating
- The difference is important in pairs such as bus and buzz
- Plural and possessive endings use both sounds
Common mistakes
- bus pronounced /bʌz/ → Say /bʌs/
- prize pronounced /praɪs/ → Say /praɪz/
Use cases
- Plural nouns
- Speaking clearly
- Pronouncing numbers and prices
💡 Tip: Place your hand on your throat: you should feel a buzz on z but not on s.