English Pronunciation: Learn when and how to say the S & Z sound

The S sometimes sounds like a Z in English. But when should you use which sound? Some words are spelled the same way but have two different pronunciations! In this pronunciation lesson, I will talk about words which look the same but can be pronounced in two different ways, with an S sound or a Z sound. For example, close, use, house, and excuse can all be pronounced with an S sound or a Z sound, and the sound will change the meaning of the word. There are also some words which are very similar, for example lose, loose, advise, and advice, which even native English speakers get confused about. So take my advice, watch the video, do the quiz, improve your knowledge of English, and increase your vocabulary!

Yhank u your advice was very helpful.

Anderson luis de souza moraes

I did’n know these rules. Thanks!

anaccostaeng

Why

Asghar Saqi

goood video

vicker

Thank you very much Gill for the advice

Jacy

I got 10/10, your explaination is very clearly so i can understand total the lesson. Thank Gill

nguyen van long

Thank you so much Gill!! With such good explanations there´s no excuse (S sound) to skip your lessons ;)

knopfler86

In the question 6, isn’t the first alternative possible as well?

Marcio07

Hi there. Advise is a verb , the noun form is : advice.

Soei

The first example is the incorrect one — ‘the best advise’ should be ‘the best advice’ (noun spelling, not verb spelling) :-)

Gill

Thanks,very helpful.

Amigo1962

Hello Gill .
Are these pronunciations used everywhere or just in British English.
See you

tsamp

This is for all kinds of English!

engVid Moderator

I’m looking for the A1-A2 level English. Actually, I got A2 but that’s not enough. I think you have to special lesson from Cambridge Press Book.

I like your class but you’re speak very slowly. When you speak little fast I can watch your video.

Preparation

Hello Mrs Gill thank you for this lesson, I got 100

tebyan

Thanks so much Gill,I got 60.

Ibrahim garba19

Thank you Gill your lesson is very useful.

Abdunabi

Why l can’t see videos? Pls help me ???

Nazanin shishehgar

All our videos are on YouTube, which is blocked in some places. You may need to use a VPN.

engVid Moderator

You are an amazing teacher. Thank you very much.

Halima19

Thank you Gill, Happy New Year!
By the way, No.4 Question’s answer is two, adjective or adverb, and adjective or noun.
Isn’t it?

Terrysam

Hello, yes you’re right — apologies, there is a mistake in the quiz. The S sound appears in adjective, adverb and noun.

Gill

PS: The wording of the quiz for Q4 has now been corrected. Thank you for letting us know about it :-)

Gill

Thank you.

Soei

Thanks,you’ve added value to my life.

Joe shamitaba

Don’t lose the your earphone…
The tiger is on the loose.

My bicycle is broken – it is of no use for me.
In that sentence,” It is of ” I don’t understand that usage.
Please explain to me about that usage.

It’s a particular style of speaking in English — if something is “of use to me” that means it’s “useful to me” :-)

Gill

thank you

pulseheart

Brilliant It was very helpful Cheers

absa1976

thank you… I hope to learn more.

Maribel1971

Thank you so much Gill. It is such a pleasure to watch your lessons and listen to your beautiful pronunciation.

sonique

Thanks a lot Gill, your lessons are very useful!

Effe

Thank you, but I like the poem’s lessons more
Especially from you

hamid tammo

Thanks a lot for this very interesting lesson Gill !

Pommekiwi

Thanks you so much ma’am Gill.. This lesson helps me a lot for my study..

Ramram123

My favourite adjective made from the word “use” is “useful”. :)

OlegAney

Hi Gill, another excellent lesson from you. I found it tricky, in the question two in your test, we have the words phase and face, they both can be a verb and a noun, but they cannot be pronounced with both a S and a Z sound. Can you please explain it? Thank you!