PHONETIC "s" words in the English language

NOTE: These words are part of 9,000+ words which were compiled and graciously contributed by Alan Beale from his master list of 30,000 words which shows his speech-sound notation for those 30,000 words. This makes it possible for him to efficiently generate lists of words which meet any speech-sound criteria. The following words meet our "selected-phonetic" criteria and should therefor be useful for teaching beginners. Almost all these words are very easy to read because all words with irregular spelling have been eliminated.

Where two listings are given for the same word, that word can be pronounced in two different ways.

How this list came to be / The phonetic rules that governed the selection of the phonetic words.

Sabbath
sabbatical
sac
sack
sacking
sacrament
sacramental
sacrifice
sacristy
sad
sadden
saddle
saddlebag
sadistic
sadistically
sadly
sadness
safflower
sag
sail
sailboat
sailfish
sailing
saint
saintly
salad
salamander
salinity
salon
saloon
salver
salvo
Sam
sampan
sample
sampler
sand
sandal
sandbag
sandbar
sandblast
sandblaster
sandbox
sander
sandlot
sandman
sandstorm
sandwich
sandy
sanity
sans
Sanskrit
Santa
sap
sapling
sappy
sapsucker
sarcastic
sarcastically
sardonic
sardonically
sash
sashay
sass
sassafras
sassy
sat
satanic
satanically
sateen
satin
satiny
satirist
satisfied
Saturday
Saturn
saturnine
savanna
savvy
sax
say
saying
scab
scabby
scads
scalawag
scalp
scalpel
scalper
scam
scamp
scamper
scan
scandal
scanner
scant
scantily
scanty
scar
scarf
scarlet
scat
scatter
scatterbrain
sclerotic
scoff
scoop
scoot
scooter
scorch
scorching
score
scorer
scorn
scornful
scornfully
Scot
Scotland
Scots
Scotsman
Scott
Scottish
scoundrel
scour
scout
scouting
scoutmaster
scow
scowl
scrabble
scraggly
scram
scramble
scrambler
scrap
scrappy
scraps
scream
screech
screen
screenplay
scribble
scribbler
scrimp
scrip
script
scrod
scrub
scrubber
scrubby
scruff
scruffy
scrunch
scud
scuff
scuffle
scull
scullery
sculpt
scum
scumbag
scummy
scupper
scurf
scurry
scurvy
scuttle
scuttlebutt
scuzzy
sea
seabed
seacoast
seafood
seagull
seahorse
seal
sealant
sealer
sealskin
seam
seaman
seamanship
seamless
seamstress
seamy
seaport
seashell
seashore
seasick
seasickness
seat
seatbelt
seating
seaway
seaweed
sec
sect
sedative
sediment
see
seed
seedless
seedling
seedy
seeing
seek
seeker
seem
seeming
seemingly
seemly
seen
seep
seethe
seething
segment
segmented
select
selective
selectivity
self

selfish
selfishly
selfishness
selfless
selflessly
selflessness
sell
seller
sellout
semester
seminal
seminar
Semitic
send
sender
senility
senna
sense
sensibility
sensible
sensibly
sensitive
sensitivity
sent
sentiment
sentimental
sentimentalist
sentimentality
sentimentally
sentinel
sentry
sepsis
September
septet
septic
serenity
serf
serpent
servant
serve
server
servile
servility
serving
set
setback
settee
setter
setting
settle
settled
settlement
settler
setup
seven
seventeen
seventeenth
seventh
seventy
sever
several
severally
sex
sexist
sexless
sextant
sextet
sexy
sh
shabbily
shabby
shack
shackle
shad
shaft
shag
shaggy
shall
shallot
shalt
sham
shamble
shambles
shampoo
shamrock
shan’t
shanty
shard
shark
sharkskin
sharp
sharpen
sharpener
sharply
sharpness
sharpshooter
shat
shatter
shatterproof
sheaf
sheath
sheathe
sheathing
shed
sheen
sheep
sheepish
sheepishly
sheepishness
sheepskin
sheet
sheeting
shekel
shelf
shell
shellac
shellfish
shelter
shelve
shelving
shenanigan
shenanigans
sherbet
shift
shiftily
shiftless
shifty
shill
shilling
shim
shimmer
shimmy
shin
shindig
shine
shingle
shingles
shinny
shinsplints
Shinto
ship
shipload
shipment
shipper
shipping
shipwreck
shipyard
shirk
shirker
shirt
shirtsleeve
shirttail
shiver
shivery
shoal
shock
shocker
shocking
shockingly
shockproof
shod
shoddily
shoddy
shoo
shoot
shooter
shooting
shootout
shop
shopkeeper
shoplift
shoplifter
shoplifting
shopper
shopping
shopworn
shore
shorn
short
shortcut
shorten
shortening
shortfall
shortly
shortness
shorts
shortstop
shot
shotgun
shout
shower
showery
shrapnel
shred
shredder
shrift
shrill
shrillness
shrilly
shrimp
shrine
shrink
shrivel
shroud
shrub
shrubbery
shrubby
shrug
shuck
shucks
shudder
shuffle
shun
shunt
shush
shut
shutdown
shutout
shutter
shutterbug
shuttle
shuttlecock
sibilant

sibling
sibyl
sic
sick
sickbay
sickbed
sicken
sickening
sickle
sickly
sickness
sift
sifter
signal
signally
signatory
signet
significant
significantly
silica
silk
silken
silky
sill
silly
silt
silver
silverfish
silversmith
silvery
simmer
simper
simple
simplistic
simply
sin
sinful
sinfully
sing
singer
singing
single
singles
singly
sinister
sink
sinkable
sinker
sinner
sip
sir
sirloin
sirocco
sis
sissy
sister
sisterly
sit
sitar
sitcom
sitter
sitting
six
sixteen
sixteenth
sixth
sixty
sizzle
skeletal
skeptic
skeptical
skeptically
skid
skiff
skill
skillet
skillful
skillfully
skim
skimp
skimpy
skin
skinflint
skinless
skinny
skip
skipper
skirmish
skirt
skit
skittish
skulduggery
skulk
skull
skullcap
slab
slack
slacken
slacker
slackness
slacks
slag
slain
slam
slammer
slander
slanderer
slant
slap
slapdash
slaphappy
slapstick
slash
slat
slather
slattern
slaver
slay
slayer
slaying
sleaze
sleazy
sled
sleek
sleekly
sleekness
sleep
sleeper
sleepily
sleepless
sleeplessness
sleepy
sleet
sleety
sleeve
slender
slenderness
slept
slice
slick
slicker
slickly
slickness
slid
slim
sling
slingshot
slink
slinky
slip
slipknot
slipper
slippery
slipshod
slit
slither
slithery
sliver
slob
slobber
sloe
slog
sloop
slop
sloppily
sloppy
slosh
slot
slouch
slug
slugger
sluggish
sluggishly
sluggishness
slum
slumber
slumlord
slump
slur
slurp
slush
slushy
slut
sluttish
smack
small
smallish
smallness
smallpox
smarmy
smart
smarten
smartly
smartness
smarts
smash
smattering
smell
smelly
smelt
smelter
smirch
smirk
smith
smithereens
smithy
smitten
smock
smocking
smog
smoggy
smooch
smooth
smoothly
smoothness
smorgasbord
smug
smuggle
smuggler
smuggling
smugly
smugness
smut

smutty
snack
snag
snail
snap
snapper
snappish
snappy
snapshot
snarl
snazzy
sneak
sneaker
sneaking
sneaky
sneeze
snicker
sniff
sniffle
sniffles
snip
snippet
snippy
snit
snivel
snob
snobbery
snobbish
snobbishness
snobby
snoop
snooper
snoot
snooty
snooze
snore
snorer
snorkel
snorkeling
snort
snout
snub
snuck
snuff
snuffer
snuffle
snug
snuggle
snugly
so
soak
soaking
soap
soapbox
soapsuds
soapy
sob
sock
socket
sod
sodden
soggy
soil
solid
solidly
solidness
solitaire
solvable
solve
solvent
somber
somberly
sonic
sonnet
soon
soothe
soothing
soothingly
soothsayer
sop
sopping
soppy
sorbet
sordid
sordidly
sordidness
sore
sort
sot
sound
sounding
soundless
soundly
soundness
soundproof
soundtrack
sour
sourly
sourness
souse
South
south
southbound
southeast
southeasterly
southeastern
southwest
southwesterly
southwestern
sow
soy
soybean
spa
Spain
span
spandex
Spanish
spar
spark
sparkle
sparkler
sparkling
sparkplug
sparse
Spartan
spasmodic
spasmodically
spastic
spat
spatter
spay
speak
speakeasy
speaker
speck
speckle
speckled
specs
specter
spectra
spectral
spectrum
sped
speech
speechless
speed
speedboat
speeder
speedily
speeding
speedster
speedway
speedy
spell
spellbound
speller
spelling
spelt
spend
spender
spending
spendthrift
spent
sperm
spice
spiffy
spill
spillway
spilt
spin
spindle
spindly
spine
spinet
spinner
spinster
spit
spitball
spittle
spittoon
splash
splashdown
splashy
splat
splatter
splay
spleen
splendid
splendidly
splenetic
splice
splint
splinter
split
splitting
splutter
spoil
spoiler
spoils
spoilsport
spoilt
spoof
spook
spooky
spool
spoon
spoonbill
spore
sport
sporting
sportive
sports
sportscast
sportscaster
sportsman
sportsmanship
sporty
spot
spotless
spotlessly
spotted
spotter
spotty

spouse
spout
sprain
sprat
spray
sprayer
spree
sprig
spring
springy
sprinkle
sprinkler
sprinkling
sprint
sprinter
sprocket
sprout
spud
spun
spur
spurn
spurt
sputter
squall
squeak
squeaky
squeal
squeamish
squeamishness
squeeze
squelch
squid
squiggle
squint
squirm
squirmy
squirrel
squirt
squish
squishy
stab
stabbing
stability
stack
stacks
staff
staffer
staffing
stag
stagger
staggering
staggeringly
stagnant
staid
staidly
stain
stainless
stair
stairs
stairway
stairwell
stall
stamina
stammer
stammerer
stamp
stand
standing
standout
standpoint
stands
standstill
stanza
star
starch
starchy
starfish
stark
starkly
starless
starlet
starling
starlit
starry
start
starter
startle
startled
startling
starve
starving
stash
stat
static
statistic
statistical
statistically
statistics
statistics
status
stay
steal
steam
steamboat
steamer
steamship
steamy
steed
steel
steely
steep
steeple
steeplejack
steeply
steepness
stem
stench
step
stepchildren
stepladder
steppe
stepsister
sterility
sterling
stern
sterna
sternly
sternness
sternum
stick
sticker
stickler
sticks
stickup
sticky
stiff
stiffen
stiffener
stiffly
stiffness
stigma
stiletto
still
stillbirth
stillborn
stillness
stilt
stilted
stilts
sting
stinger
stingray
stink
stinker
stinking
stint
stipple
stir
stirring
stirrup
stoat
stock
stockcar
stocking
stockroom
stocky
stockyard
stolid
stolidly
stomp
stool
stoop
stop
stopcock
stopgap
stopper
store
stork
storm
stormily
stormy
story
stout
stoutly
stoutness
straddle
straggle
straggler
straggly
strain
strainer
strait
straitjacket
strand
stranded
strap
strapless
strapping
stray
streak
streaky
stream
streamer
streamline
street
streetcar
strep
stress
stressful
stricken
strict
strictly
strictness
stridden
string
stringer
strings
stringy
strip
stripling
stripper
striptease
striven

strop
struck
struggle
strum
strumpet
strut
stub
stubble
stubbly
stubby
stucco
stuck
stud
studded
study
stuff
stuffing
stuffy
stumble
stump
stumpy
stun
stunning
stunningly
stunt
stuntman
sturdily
sturdy
stutter
stutterer
styptic
sub
subatomic
subcompact
subcontinent
subcontract
subject
subjective
subjectivity
sublease
sublet
subliminal
submersible
submissive
submit
subnormal
suborn
subplot
subscript
subset
subsidy
subsist
subsoil
subsonic
substantive
subtract
subtropical
suburb
suburban
subversive
subvert
subway
such
suck
sucker
suckle
suckling
sudden
suddenly
suddenness
suds
sudsy
Sue
suffer
sufferer
suffering
suffice
suffix
sulfur
sulk
sulkily
sulky
sullen
sullenly
sullenness
sully
sultan
sultana
sultry
sum
summer
summerhouse
summery
summit
sun
sunbeam
Sunbelt
sunblock
sunbonnet
sunburn
sunburnt
Sunday
sunder
sundown
sundry
sunfish
sunflower
sunglasses
sunlamp
sunless
sunlit
sunny
sunroof
sunscreen
sunset
sunshine
sunspot
suntan
sunup
sup
supper
supplant
supple
supplement
supplemental
supplicant
supplies
support
supportable
supporter
supportive
suppository
suppress
surf
surfer
surfing
surly
surmount
surmountable
surpass
surplus
surrender
surround
surrounding
surroundings
surtax
suspect
suspect
suspend
suspenders
suspense
sustain
svelte
swag
swagger
swain
swam
sway
sweep
sweeper
sweeping
sweepings
sweet
sweeten
sweetener
sweetish
sweetly
sweetmeat
sweetness
sweets
swell
swelling
swelter
sweltering
swept
swerve
swift
swiftly
swiftness
swig
swill
swim
swimmer
swimming
swindle
swindler
swine
swing
swinger
swinging
swirl
swish
Swiss
swivel
swoon
swoop
swore
sworn
swum
sycamore
syllable
syllabus
sylvan
symbolic
symbolically
symmetric
symmetrical
symmetrically
symmetry
sympathetic
sympathetically
sympathy
synapse
synopsis
syntactic
syntax
synthesis
synthetic
synthetically
system
systematic
systematically
systemic
systolic