The /SH/Sound: Speech Therapy Guide & Practice Games

The /SH/ sound is a voiceless postalveolar fricative. It is produced by rounding the lips slightly and pulling the tongue back so the broad front of the tongue is close to the roof of the mouth behind the alveolar ridge. Air is pushed through this wide channel, creating a hushing noise.

calendar_monthAge of mastery:4-6
trending_upFrequency:Common
sports_esportsGames available:8
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How to Make the /SH/ Sound

Round your lips slightly and push them forward, as if about to blow a kiss. Pull your tongue back so the wide front part is near the roof of your mouth, just behind the bumpy ridge. The sides of your tongue should touch your upper back teeth. Blow air through the channel between your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Your voice stays off — it should sound like you are saying "shhh" to quiet someone.

IPA Symbol: /ʃ/

Most children master the /SH/ sound by age 4-6. It is one of the earlier-developing fricatives and often emerges naturally as children begin to produce more complex sounds.

Common /SH/ Sound Errors

  • error_outlineSubstituting /S/ for /SH/ (e.g., "soe" for "shoe")
  • error_outlineNot rounding the lips enough, causing the sound to come out as /S/
  • error_outlineTongue positioned too far forward, resulting in a lisp-like distortion
  • error_outlineSubstituting /CH/ for /SH/ (e.g., "choe" for "shoe")
  • error_outlineProducing a lateral (side-air-escape) version of /SH/
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/SH/ Word Lists by Position

Practice these words organized by where the /SH/ sound appears. Start with the position your child finds easiest.

Initial Position

/SH/ at the beginning of words

shakeshapesharesharksharpsheepshellshipshirtshoeshopshortshouldershowshowershrimpshutshadowshinyshovel

Medial Position

/SH/ in the middle of words

bushescashewcushiondisheseyelashfishinglotionmachinemushroomoceanpushingrushingseashellsunshinetissuewashingwishingfashionmotionnation

Final Position

/SH/ at the end of words

brushbushcashcrashdishfishflashfreshleashmoustachepushrushsplashsquashtrashwashwishfinishpolishvanish
sports_esportsPractice these words with our games
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Tips for Practicing the /SH/ Sound at Home

Evidence-based strategies parents can use to support /SH/ sound practice.

1

Use the "quiet" cue: tell your child to put their finger to their lips and say "shhh" like they are telling a baby to be quiet.

2

Emphasize lip rounding — have your child practice making a "fish face" or "kissing face" before producing the sound.

3

Compare /S/ and /SH/ side by side: /S/ has a narrow smile with tongue tip forward, /SH/ has rounded lips with tongue pulled back.

4

Use visual cues: show pictures of things that make /SH/ sounds (ocean waves, a quiet library) to reinforce the sound.

5

Practice /SH/ in isolation until solid, then move to syllables (sha, she, sho) before tackling full words.

6

Try the "creeping S" technique: start with /S/ and slowly round the lips and pull the tongue back until it becomes /SH/.

7

Play sorting games where your child separates /S/ words from /SH/ words to build auditory discrimination.

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Practice Sentences for the /SH/ Sound

Read these sentences aloud with your child. Words containing the /SH/ sound are highlighted.

Shelly shared her shiny shells by the seashore.

The ship sailed through the shadow of the shark.

Please put the dishes in the washing machine.

She wished for a fish-shaped cushion.

The sunshine made the ocean shimmer and shine.

Sherman wore a sharp shirt to the fashion show.

Brush your teeth before the shower, please.

The shy sheep shuffled through the bushes.

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Games for the /SH/ Sound

Practice the /SH/ sound with interactive games designed by speech pathologists.

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Bubble Pop

/SH/ practice

phishing

Sound Fishing

/SH/ practice

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Memory Match

/SH/ practice

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Pizza Builder

/SH/ practice

rocket_launch

Space Blaster

/SH/ practice

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Word Runner

/SH/ practice

pest_control

Whack-a-Word

/SH/ practice

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Story Adventure

/SH/ practice

Play games for the /SH/ sound
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Frequently Asked Questions About the /SH/ Sound

Common questions parents ask about the /SH/ sound in speech therapy.

When should my child be able to say the /SH/ sound?expand_more
Most children produce the /SH/ sound correctly by age 4-6. If your child is consistently substituting /S/ for /SH/ after age 5-6, a speech therapy evaluation may be helpful.
How is /SH/ different from /S/?expand_more
Both are voiceless fricatives, but they differ in tongue and lip position. For /S/, the tongue tip is behind the upper front teeth with lips in a slight smile. For /SH/, the tongue is pulled further back, the channel is wider, and the lips are rounded forward.
My child can say /SH/ in some words but not others. Why?expand_more
This is common during the learning process. The surrounding vowels and consonants in a word can affect how easy or hard it is to produce /SH/. Practice the easier words first to build confidence, then gradually introduce more challenging combinations.
Is /SH/ the same as /CH/?expand_more
No, though they are related. /SH/ is a continuous fricative (you can hold it: "shhhh"), while /CH/ is an affricate that starts with a /T/ stop and releases into /SH/. Think of /CH/ as a quick burst (/T/ + /SH/) while /SH/ is a sustained airflow.
What activities help with the /SH/ sound at home?expand_more
Reading books with lots of /SH/ words, playing "shhh" games (quieting stuffed animals), sorting /S/ vs /SH/ word cards, and practicing tongue twisters are all great home activities. Even bath time ("wash," "splash," "shampoo") is a natural practice opportunity.

Related Sounds

/CH/

CH Sound

View guide

/S/

S Sound

View guide

/J/

J Sound

View guide

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