Minimal Pair /s/ and /ʃ/
Below is a list of words that vary only by one having the sound /s/ and the other the sound /ʃ/.
You can use this list to practise the sounds, or as a list of words to be careful in pronouncing.
/s/ is said with the lips pulled back more, with the same mouth position as /z/ but without using your voice.
Elementary
C she
sea she
seat sheet
see she
sock shock
Pre-Intermediate
boss bosh
save shave
seal she’ll
so show
sofa chauffeur
sore sure
sort short
Intermediate
cost coshed
fist fished
gas gash
plus plush
puss push
rust rushed
saw shore
seed she’d
seek chic
seen sheen
sell shell
sew show
sign shine
single shingle
sit shit
son shun
sun shun
Upper-Intermediate
ass ash
crass crash
crust crushed
mass mash
mess mesh
sack shack
said shed
sake shake
sale shale
same shame
sank shank
scene sheen
seep sheep
seize she’s
sigh shy
sin shin
sip ship
sop shop
sue shoe
Advanced
bass bash
doss dosh
gust gushed
moss mosh
sag shag
sail shale
sass sash
sawn shorn
seer sheer
sift shift
sill shill
sine shine
sod shod
sot shot
sucks shucks