If you’ve ever mixed up sheep and cheap, you already know how tricky these sounds can be. The difference between /ʃ/ and /tʃ/ is very important for clear English pronunciation.
This guide will help you understand and practice this pair confidently.
How to Distinguish the /ʃ/ and /tʃ/ Sounds?
What Are /ʃ/ and /tʃ/?
Let’s look closely at these consonant sounds:
| Sound | Description |
|---|---|
| /ʃ/ | The voiceless postalveolar fricative. Air flows continuously through a narrow gap between the tongue and the roof of the mouth. It’s the sh in she, shut, push. |
| /tʃ/ | The voiceless postalveolar affricate. It starts as a stop (/t/) and quickly releases into a fricative (/ʃ/). It’s the ch in cheese, choose, church. |
How to Pronounce /ʃ/ and /tʃ/
✅ /ʃ/ – The “sh” Sound
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Place the tip of your tongue close to the roof of your mouth, just behind your upper front teeth.
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Blow air out gently.
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No complete stop—it’s a smooth hiss.
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No vocal cord vibration.
Look at the picture to see how wide your jaw should drop for /ʃ/.
Listen to this recording to hear the /ʃ/ sound in “shop.”
✅ /tʃ/ – The “ch” Sound
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Start with the /t/ sound (tongue stops the air).
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Release the air quickly into /ʃ/.
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Sounds like t + sh together.
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No vocal cord vibration.
Use this diagram to guide your mouth shape when pronouncing /tʃ/
Use the audio example to train your ear for /tʃ/ in “chat.”
Minimal Pairs /ʃ/ vs. /tʃ/ with Example Sentences
✅ ship / chip
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I bought a ship yesterday.
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I bought a chip yesterday.
✅ cash / catch
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I need to cash this quickly.
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I need to catch this quickly.
✅ shop / chop
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They will shop here.
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They will chop here.
Minimal Pairs /ʃ/ and /tʃ/ List
| /ʃ/ Word | /tʃ/ Word |
|---|---|
| bash /bæʃ/ | batch /bætʃ/ |
| cash /kæʃ/ | catch /kætʃ/ |
| sheep /ʃiːp/ | cheap /ʧiːp/ |
| chic /ʃiːk/ | cheek /ʧiːk/ |
| shin /ʃɪn/ | chin /ʧɪn/ |
| shop /ʃɒp/ | chop /ʧɒp/ |
| shore /ʃɔː/ | chore /ʧɔː/ |
| shoes /ʃuːz/ | choose /ʧuːz/ |
| sherry /ˈʃeri/ | cherry /ˈʧeri/ |
| crush /krʌʃ/ | clutch /klʌʧ/ |
| dish /dɪʃ/ | ditch /dɪtʃ/ |
| lash /læʃ/ | latch /lætʃ/ |
| leash /liːʃ/ | leach /liːʧ/ |
| marsh /mɑːʃ/ | March /mɑːʧ/ |
| mash /mæʃ/ | match /mætʃ/ |
| mush /mʌʃ/ | much /mʌtʃ/ |
| share /ʃeə/ | chair /ʧeə/ |
| shoe /ʃuː/ | chew /ʧuː/ |
| swish /swɪʃ/ | switch /swɪʧ/ |
| wish /wɪʃ/ | which /wɪʧ/ |
| hash /hæʃ/ | hatch /hætʃ/ |
| ish /ɪʃ/ | itch /ɪʧ/ |
| sheet /ʃiːt/ | cheat /tʃiːt/ |
| shock /ʃɑːk/ | chalk /tʃɔːk/ |
| shine /ʃaɪn/ | chine /tʃaɪn/ |