/s/ vs /z/ minimal pairs
/s/ and /z/ are both alveolar fricative sounds — the only difference is voicing: your vocal cords vibrate for /z/ but not for /s/. Phoneme has 8 word pairs to practice this contrast, each with native-speaker audio.
| /s/ | /z/ |
|---|---|
| sip | zip |
| bus | buzz |
| price | prize |
| sue | zoo |
| seal | zeal |
| sap | zap |
| rice | rise |
| lace | laze |
How to teach this contrast
- Listen and point. Play each word and have learners point to or repeat the symbol they hear.
- Say and check. Learners say one word from a pair; a partner (or you) identifies which one.
- Drill it. Use Phoneme's Train mode minimal-pair drill for randomized, self-checking practice.