Rx 6. [s] vs. [z]
Your instructor has identified this sound as a challenge for you. Please complete the training below. These exercises will help you understand when "s" is pronounced as [s] or [z] in French.
Read and listen
Just like in English, the letter “s” can be pronounced in different ways. Think about the words “occasion” and “explosion.” What do you notice about the “s”? Does it sound like [s] or [z]? In French, “s” is usually pronounced as [s], but just like in the English examples, ‘s’ is pronounced as [z] between two vowels: visage, oiseau.
Unlike the way “ss” varies in English between “dessert” where it sounds like [z] and “Mississippi” where it sounds like [s], “ss” is always pronounced as [s]: poisson, dessert.
The letter “s,” which is usually silent at the end of French words (see our lesson on the final “s”), is pronounced as [z] when the following word begins with a vowel. We call this a liaison. You will hear it in the dialogue for “mes amis” [me za mi], but it’s not the focus of this lesson.
Listen to this dialogue and notice when you hear “s” pronounced as [s] or [z].
D : Salut Isabelle!
I : Salut Denise!
D: Qu’est-ce que tu fais le samedi d’habitude?
I : Euh… Je passe du temps avec mes amis, on sort dans la ville, on s’amuse bien! Et toi?
D : Moi, je reste à la maison! Je fais la vaisselle, je fais la lessive, je repasse le linge, je passe l’aspirateur, je cuisine. Bref, je suis très occupée!
I : Ah bon?! Résolument, nos week-ends ne se ressemblent pas…ça te dit de se voir samedi prochain ?
D : Malheureusement, je ne peux pas! Et puis, je dois te laisser! J’ai beaucoup de choses à faire!
In which words did you hear [s] pronounced?
In which words did you hear [z] pronounced?
Listen and repeat
1. personne, pastel, danser, penser, triste, vaste
2. chaise, cause, chose, crise, prise valise, surprise
3. tasse, classe, caisse, poisson, passion, chaussure, chaussette
4. amusant, présent, aisé, désolé, heureuse, sérieuse
5. laisser, passer, réussir, ressembler, repousser
6. vous choisissez, elle se repose, nous nous amusons, ils cuisinent
7. Denise, Josselin, Melissa, Isabelle, Françoise
Compare and Contrast
[s] vs. [z]
poison – poisson, désert – dessert, cousin – coussin
base – basse, ruse – russe , viser – visser
Listen and differentiate
Compare and contrast the pronunciation of the sounds [s] and [z] in the following words, noting their similarities.
classe – class | cousin – cousin | présent – present | président – president
However, pay attention to these words that are different (and important!):
to resemble – ressembler | a dessert – un dessert
Listen and say where you hear “s” and where you hear “z”.
Isabelle s’amuse avec ses voisins. Elle ressemble à son père et à ses cousins. Elle n’est pas sérieuse. Elle passe trop de temps à s’amuser et repousse ses devoirs jusqu’à la dernière minute.
In which words did you hear “s”?
In which words did you hear “z”?
Listen in context and notice
- Le fameux vers dans la tirade d’Andromaque de Racine
2. Si Six Scies Scient Six Cyprès, Six Cent Six Scies Scient Six Cent Six Cyprès
3. Listen to the song “4 mots sur un piano” and pay attention to how ‘s’ and ‘ss’ are pronounced in the following words: laissés, passé, caresses, baisers, assez, choisir
Culminating Recording
If you have carefully followed the above instructions, you should now be able to read and correctly pronounce the following sentences in an audio file for your professor.
- Après les cours, je passe à la pâtisserie “Chez Denise”. Je choisis un dessert avec des fraises, des framboises et des fruits de la passion.