English: How to Pronounce SH [ʃ] and ZH [ʒ] Consonants

Confused by the SH and ZH sounds? Learn Rachel’s step-by-step method to pronounce them clearly in American English with confidence.

The Difference Between SH [ʃ] and ZH [ʒ]

The SH and ZH consonants are paired sounds because they use the same mouth position.

The key difference is voicing:

• SH [ʃ] is unvoiced—only air passes through your mouth.
• ZH [ʒ] is voiced—your vocal cords vibrate as you make the sound.

Try saying:

• SHHH… (no vibration)
• ZHHH… (feel the vibration in your throat)

Learning to recognize this difference is an important step toward more accurate pronunciation.

Mouth Position for SH and ZH

Both sounds are produced with the same mouth shape.

To make them correctly:

• Bring your teeth close together.
• Pull the corners of your lips inward so the lips flare slightly forward.
• Raise the front and middle of the tongue close to the roof of the mouth without touching it.
• Point the tip of the tongue forward, but don’t let it touch anything.

This narrow passage allows the air to create the characteristic SH and ZH sounds.

Watch the Mouth Shape

Whether the sound appears at the beginning, middle, or end of a word, the mouth position stays the same.

Examples include:

• Shop — SH at the beginning
• Wish — SH at the end
• Asia — ZH in the middle

In every case:

• The teeth stay close together.
• The lips flare slightly.
• The tongue remains close to the roof of the mouth without touching it.

Practice the SH Sound

Repeat these words aloud:

• Should
• Special
• Wash

Focus on keeping the sound unvoiced while maintaining the correct mouth position.

Practice the ZH Sound

Now practice the voiced sound:

• Measure
• Garage
• Usual

Remember to let your vocal cords vibrate while keeping the mouth position exactly the same as for SH.

Key Takeaways

• SH [ʃ] is unvoiced, while ZH [ʒ] is voiced.
• Both sounds use the same mouth and tongue position.
• Keep the teeth close together and the lips slightly flared.
• Raise the front and middle of the tongue close to the roof of the mouth without touching it.
• Practice minimal differences between SH and ZH to improve your American English pronunciation.