Letter S: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
S is the 19th letter of the English alphabet. It comes after R and before T. S is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is S and the small (lowercase) letter is s.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter S at a Glance
| Position | 19th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | S s |
| Comes between | R and T |
| Main sounds | s, z sound, sh |
| Strokes to write it | Capital S: 1 · small s: 1 |
How to Write Capital S and Small s
Follow the numbers: start each stroke at its numbered dot and move in the direction of the arrow. The blue top line, dashed middle line and red bottom line match the lines on handwriting paper.
Capital S (1 stroke)
- Start near the top on the right.
- Curve up and to the left, then curve down across the middle to the right, like a snake.
- Curve back around to the left at the bottom.
Small s (1 stroke)
- Make the same snake-like curve, but smaller, between the middle line and the bottom line.
Small s is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
Common mix-up: S is often written backwards by young children. Remember that S starts at the top on the right, curving like the start of C.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter S Tracing Sheet
Print this one-page sheet for practice at home or in class. Each row starts with a solid model letter, followed by dotted letters to trace, then empty lines to write S and s alone.
What Sound Does S Make?
- s: a hissing sound, like a snake, made with your teeth close together and no voice. Examples: sun, snake, sock, bus.
- z sound: s often sounds like z in the middle or at the end of words. Examples: is, has, dogs, rose.
- sh: when s and h team up. Examples: ship, shoe, fish.
Practice the sound with pictures on S is for Sun, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With S
S is for Sun! Here are more S words:
S also appears in the middle or at the end of words: bus, glass, grass, horse, house.
Interesting Facts About S
- Adding s to the end of a word is the most common way to make it mean more than one: cat becomes cats.
- Lots of words start with s followed by another consonant, such as stop, snake, spoon and swim.
Quick Quiz: Letter S
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right after S?
T.
What sound does the s make at the end of dogs?
A z sound.
What do you usually add to a word to mean more than one?
The letter s, as in cats or toys.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Slither around like snakes while hissing "S is for snake!" Then draw or color the sun together, talking about how "sun" and "snake" both start with the same sound.
At Home
Fill a bin with sand (or use a sensory tray) and let your child trace the letter S right in it while saying "S is for sand." The texture makes the curved shape easier to feel and remember.
Tips
Parents: Since S is such a common letter, point it out throughout the day in familiar words your child already knows — it reinforces the letter without needing a dedicated activity every time.
Teachers: S's continuous curve is great handwriting practice — have children trace it slowly in the air with a finger before moving to paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is S in the alphabet?
S is the 19th letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after R and before T.
Is S a vowel or a consonant?
S is a consonant. All letters except the vowels A, E, I, O and U are consonants (Y can be both).
What sound does the letter S make?
S makes these sounds: s as in sun; z sound as in is; sh as in ship.
How do you write a small s?
Make the same snake-like curve, but smaller, between the middle line and the bottom line. Small s is a short letter: it sits between the dashed middle line and the bottom line, like a, c and o.
What are some words that start with S?
Words that start with S include sun, snake, star, sock, seal, spider.
Why does S sometimes sound like Z?
When s comes after a sound made with your voice, as in dogs, or between vowels, as in rose, it often takes on the buzzing z sound.
Summary
S is the 19th letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are s, z sound, sh. Capital S takes 1 stroke and small s takes 1. Next, learn the letter T.