Speech sound guide · /ʃ/ as in “shoe”
My child can’t say the SH sound
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The short answer
In a large review of US studies, 90% of children said SH correctly by about 4 years 7 months. Younger children often swap it for S (“sue” for shoe). If your child is past that age and SH still sounds different, ask a speech-language pathologist.
Most children say it by about 4½ (90% by 4 years 7 months)
How the SH sound is made
SH is made with the tongue a little further back than for S and the lips pushed forward and rounded, like a gentle “shhh” for quiet.
Common ways children say it differently
- Uses S instead of SH
- “sue” for shoe, “fis” for fish.
- A slushy SH
- Air escapes over the sides of the tongue, much like a lateral lisp on S.
What the age means, and what it doesn’t
“90% by 4 years 7 months” means that in the pooled studies, nine in ten children said SH correctly by that age. About one in ten children who are developing typically get there later, so it’s a guide for when to ask, not a deadline. Ages come from US children learning English.
When to ask a speech therapist about SH
- Your child is past about about 4½ and still swaps or distorts SH.
- People outside the family often find your child hard to understand, or your child is frustrated or teased about how they talk.
- You’re worried. You don’t need to wait for a set age to ask.
More signs: Does my child need speech therapy? In the US, you can ask for a free speech evaluation, or find a certified SLP through ASHA ProFind.
SH practice words
At the start
shoe, ship, shell, sheep
In the middle
fishing, washing, cushion, ocean
At the end
fish, wash, brush, push
Use the words your child’s SLP picks first. For keeping practice low-pressure, see how to help at home, and for why a sound can work in sessions before it shows up in conversation, see carryover.
Questions parents ask about SH
When should my child say SH?
In the 2020 review of US studies, 90% of children said SH correctly by about 4 years 7 months.
How can I help at home?
Play “shhh” games (a sleeping toy, a quiet library) and use words from the list above, praising the try more than the result.