Parent guide
Speech sounds by age
Published · Updated
The short answer
Children learn speech sounds gradually. Most say K by about 3, S, L, CH, SH and Z by about 4½, R by about 5½, and TH last, by about 6½. These ages come from a 2020 review that pooled 15 US studies of nearly 19,000 children.
When most children say each tricky sound
| Sound | As in | 90% of children by | Group | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | kite, cat | 3 years 2 months | Early | K guide |
| S | sun | 4 years 3 months | Middle | S guide |
| CH | chair | 4 years 6 months | Middle | CH guide |
| L | lion | 4 years 6 months | Middle | L guide |
| SH | shoe | 4 years 7 months | Middle | SH guide |
| Z | zoo | 4 years 9 months | Middle | Z guide |
| R | red | 5 years 7 months | Late | R guide |
| TH (voiced) | this | 5 years 9 months | Late | TH guide |
| TH (voiceless) | thumb | 6 years 5 months | Late | TH guide |
The review grouped sounds as early (learned by about 3;11), middle (4;0 to 4;11) and late (5;0 to 6;11), and found every English consonant was learned by about 7.
How to read this chart
- “90% by” is a guide, not a deadline. About 1 in 10 typically developing children take a little longer.
- Dialect matters. Some English dialects say sounds differently (for example F for TH); that isn’t an error.
- Being understood matters too. If people often can’t understand your child, ask an SLP whatever their age. How clear should my child’s speech be?
Sound guides
Questions parents ask
What is the hardest sound for kids to learn?
TH, R and the “zh” sound in “treasure” come last. In the 2020 review of US studies, 90% of children said the voiceless TH correctly by about 6 years 5 months and R by about 5 years 7 months.
At what age should a child say all their sounds?
In the 2020 review, all English consonants were acquired by about 7 (6 years 11 months) at the 90% criterion. Many children get there sooner.
What does “90% by” mean?
It’s the age by which 90% of children in the pooled studies said the sound correctly. About 1 in 10 typically developing children take longer, so it’s a guide for when to ask, not a deadline.
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Sources
- Crowe, K., & McLeod, S. (2020). Children’s English consonant acquisition in the United States: A review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(4).
- Helping You Communicate (Communication Health Support Association, powered by ASHA): Speech sound disorders.
- ASHA ProFind: find a certified speech-language pathologist.