how to pronounce the "s" in "describes"? "s" sound or "z" sound?

Answer 1

As all have said, it has the /z/ sound. In fact, when -s is added to the end of a word to form a plural noun ("boys"), a possessive ("man's") or a singular verb form ("describes") it FREQUENTLY is pronounced with the /z/ sound... but not always!

So, how do you know which one is right for a specific word? Here's how it works:

The /z/ sound is made the same way as an /s/ sound, except that the /s/ uses not voice, the /z/ uses the voice.

Whether you pronounce the -s suffix with or without the voice depends on the sound you PRONOUNCE JUST before it. If THAT sound uses the voice, the suffix is pronounced /z/. If it does not, the sound will be /s/. (Note, it is based on the pronunciation, NOT the spelling.)

So:
(A) whenever the -s comes after ANY vowel (since ALL vowels use the voice) it makes a /z/ sound.

This also includes all words that you end withe "-es" (pronounced /ez/), because you are pronouncing a vowel ("e" or /eh/ or something similar), even if no vowel is written
** Examples: both dresses AND dress's=/dresez/, pities=/piteez/, arrows=/ehrohz/, axes=/aksez/

(B) whenever the -s comes after a consonant that uses the voice it makes a /z/ sound.
** Examples: describes, gives, adds, eggs

Here is a list of several of these "voiced" consonant sounds:
b, d, g, v
z, j
y
th in words like: there, than, bathe, soothe
m, n r, l

Consonant sounds made WITHOUT the voice ("voiceless"), and which therefore pronounce a following -s suffix as /s./:
p, t, k, f
s, sh
h, w
th in words like: thick, thin, path, myth

(I've tried to put these two lists in an order that shows you the related voiced and voiceless sounds.)


Note that there are more consonants that USE the voice. When you add to this all the cases where a VOWEL sound precedes the ending, it is not surprising that the -s suffix more frequently ends up pronounced /z/

Answer 2

the first S is suppsed to sound like an actual S..but the second S (the last letter) ..i pronounce it like a Z

Answer 3

i've got heard the two procedures and been taught the two procedures. as quickly as I went to Heidelberg final year I heard the ok-ish version whilst chatting with a pair of individuals yet as quickly as I talk German with a artwork pal who's from Germany she declares the comparable words with the sh sound. i think of different German-talking places basically pronounce it in yet differently.

Answer 4

z sound

Answer 5

"Z"
describez
describes....both sound the same if you ask me :S

Answer 6

z