plural nouns in English pronunciation
The sound of -s pluralsRegular plurals in English end with an /s/, /z/ or /Iz/ sound. The choice of which one depends on the sound that preceding it. To understand this, one first has to understand the concept of VOICED and uNVOICED consonants in English. A voiced consonant soundThis is a sound that causes vibrations in the vocal chords. For example, /z/. If you make that sound and put your hand to your throat, then you should be able to feel it. Another way to tell if a sound is voiced is to put a finger in your ear and make the sound; (you should be able to hear the humming). A unvoiced consonantunvoiced consonant sounds do NOT vibrate. For example, /s/. Try the same test as before while you are making the /s/ sound. No vibration, no humming. To really get the effect, try making a long /s/ and then going to /z/ (again, with a finger in your ear or hand on your throat). sssszzzz |
The Rules1: If the singular form of the noun ends in a voiced consonant,
then the plural will have the voiced /z/.
Take the word DOOR. The /r/ sound, if we apply our test,
is voiced. So DOORS has the /z/ ending.
NOTE: If the noun ends in a vowel sound then it will also take the /z/ ending. This is because vowel sounds are voiced. For example: EYE - EYES (with /z/ sound) 2: If the singular form of the noun ends in an unvoiced consonant, then the plural will have the unvoiced /s/. Take the word BOOK. The /k/ sound is unvoiced. So BOOKS has the /s/ ending. This still doesn't account for the /IZ/ though. For this, we need to understand that, in addition to voiced and unvoiced there is another sub-category of consonant called sibilants. The s', z', sh' and tch' sounds are sibilants. 3 If the noun ends in a sibilant, then add the /IZ/ sound for the plural.
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