Languages › French How Is 'S' Pronounced in French? There's one catch to the "S" sound Share Flipboard Email Print The "s" in escargots is pronounced like the English "s". Carlo A / Getty Images French Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Grammar Resources For Teachers By ThoughtCo Updated March 22, 2019 Just as in English, the letter 'S' is used often in French. While it typically sounds exactly as you'd expect, there is a second pronunciation you'll need to know. This lesson will guide you through the sounds and even give you a few words to practice with. How to Pronounce the Letter 'S' in French The letter 'S' can be pronounced two different ways in French: It's usually pronounced like the English 'S.' This happens when it appears:At the beginning of a wordAt the end of a word or syllableAs a double 'S'Followed by a 'C' (see below)In front of a consonantThe rest of the time, it is pronounced like a 'Z.' Use this pronunciation when it is found:Between two vowelsIn a liaison such as les amis [lay za mee] and ils ont. Pronouncing the Combination of 'SC' As mentioned, when the letter 'S' is combined with a 'C' the pronunciation changes a bit. When 'SC' is used in front of soft vowel, it sounds like an 'S.' For example, as in the word sciences (science). If the 'SC' appears in front of a hard vowel or consonant, the 'S' and 'C' are pronounced separately and according to their respective rules. You're probably familiar with the word escargots (snails), which follows this rule. Practice Your Pronunciation of 'S' Since you understand the pronunciation rules for the letter 'S,' it's time to put it into practice. Using the rules above, see if you can figure out the correct pronunciation of each of these words. When you think you have it, click on the word to hear how it's supposed to sound. Sucre (sugar)Fils (son)Poisson (fish)Scruter (to scan)Visage (face)Ils ont (they have) Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation ThoughtCo. "How Is 'S' Pronounced in French?" ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/french-pronunciation-of-s-1369589. ThoughtCo. (2020, August 28). How Is 'S' Pronounced in French? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/french-pronunciation-of-s-1369589 ThoughtCo. "How Is 'S' Pronounced in French?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/french-pronunciation-of-s-1369589 (accessed March 1, 2021). copy citation