/s/ vs /z/ – e.g. sip vs zip

Complete the exercise by:

1. Listening to the MP3 and noticing the sound differences
2. Listening & repeating each word out loud.

sue – zoo
sʉː – zʉː

sip – zip
sɪp – zɪp

seal – zeal
sɪːl – zɪːl

sink – zinc
sɪŋk – zɪŋk

said – zed
sed – zed

sack – Zack
sæk – zæk

face – phase
fæɪs – fæɪz

race – raise
ræɪs – ræɪz

ice – eyes
ɑes – ɑez

mussel – muzzle
ˈmɐsl – ˈmɐzl

spice – spies
spɑes – spɑez

dose – doze
dəʉs – dəʉz

prices – prizes
ˈprɑesəz – ˈprɑezəz

place – plays
plæɪs – plæɪz

brace – braise
bræɪs – bræɪz

peace – peas
piːs – piːz

fleece – fleas
fliːs – fliːz

niece – knees
niːs – niːz

racer – razor
ˈræɪsɐ – ˈræɪzɐ

race – raise
ræɪs – ræɪz

horse – whores
hoːs – hoːz

mace – maze
mæɪs – mæɪz

bus – buzz
bɐs – bɐz

abuse – abuse
əˈbjʉːs – əˈbjʉːz

fussy – fuzzy
ˈfɐsi – ˈfɐzi

lacy – lazy
ˈlæɪsi – ˈlæɪzi

sap – zap
sæp – zæp

rice – rise
rɑes – rɑez

pace – pays
pæɪs – pæɪz

case – kays
kæɪs – kæɪz

Practice phrases to read out loud:

1. Lacy’s cat Fuzzy is lazy and fussy.
2. Sue strode to the zoo on Thursday.
3. Kay’s slow pace pays several cases.
4. The rice still rises in zones of several inches.
5. Steve’s decided to stop Zoe stealing zebras.
6. The zephyr zaps the sap on the sapling’s stem.
7. Peas and fleas were in the peaceful stead’s fleece.
8. Simon’s abuse upset the abuser’s sister’s silly dogs.
9. His niece is a racer who runs with razors on her knees.
10. The whore’s horse stole a mace as it stepped into the maze.