Single letter
The "s" sound — /s/
As in sun. Tap play to hear the sound, see the mouth shape, and learn 5 words to practice.
Mouth shape
Teeth together, blow air through
Gesture
Weave your hand like a snake and say sssss
Example words
- sat
- sip
- sun
- sad
- sit
How to teach the “s” sound
- Hear it first. Tap Play three times. Have your child watch your mouth while you copy the sound — no letter name yet, just the pure sound /s/.
- Do the gesture. Weave your hand like a snake and say sssss— kids remember sounds 2× faster when there’s a physical action attached.
- Find it in words. Read the 5 example words aloud slowly, stretching the /s/ sound: “s–a–t”.
- Spot it around the house. “Can you find something that starts with /s/?” Aim for 3 wins in a row before stopping.
Get the full app — 15 phonics games, 43 native sounds
Free on iPhone, iPad, and Android. Works offline. No ads, no surprise paywalls.
ABC Phonics — Sounds for Kids