Pronunciation

Plural Nouns: -s and -es Endings

The endings of regular plural nouns have three sounds: /s/, /z/, /z/.
1. Say /s/ after nouns that end with /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, and // sounds.

photographs  books  cups  students  baths
2. Say /z/ after nouns that end with /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, //, /r/, /v/ sounds and
vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u).

labs  beds  bags  calls  exams  pens  things  cars  gloves  shoes
3. Say /z/ after nouns that end with /t/, /ks/, /d/, //, /s/, and /z/ sounds.
watches  boxes  pages  dishes  classes  buzzes

See page A4 for a guide to pronunciation symbols.