📝 In Action
La palabra 'casa' se escribe con 's'.
A1The word 'casa' is written with an 's'.
Mi nombre empieza con la letra ese.
A1My name starts with the letter s.
En español, la 's' al final de una palabra suele indicar plural.
A2In Spanish, an 's' at the end of a word usually indicates the plural form.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender of Letters
In Spanish, the names of letters are always feminine. That's why we say 'la ese' (the s), just like we'd say 'la a' or 'la be'.
The Plural 's'
One of the most important jobs of the letter 's' is to make words plural. For example, 'libro' (book) becomes 'libros' (books).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronunciation: The 'Buzzing' Sound
Mistake: "Pronouncing the 's' with a 'z' buzz, like in the English words 'rose' or 'is'."
Correction: The Spanish 's' is almost always a sharp, hissing sound, like the 's' in 'snake' or 'sun'. It never buzzes like a 'z'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Listen for Plurals
Pay close attention to the 's' sound at the end of words when you're listening to Spanish. It's a key clue that someone is talking about more than one thing.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: s
Question 1 of 1
Which of these sentences uses 'la ese' correctly?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Spanish 's' ever pronounced like a 'z'?
Almost never. Unlike in English (e.g., 'is', 'rose'), the Spanish 's' consistently makes a hissing sound, like in the word 'snake'. The only rare exception might be when it comes before a voiced consonant like 'd' or 'g' in very fast speech, but as a rule, always aim for the 'snake' sound.
What's the difference between 's', 'c' (before e/i), and 'z' in Spain vs. Latin America?
In most of Latin America, all three sound exactly the same: a hissing 's' sound (this is called 'seseo'). In most of Spain, 's' has the hissing sound, while 'c' (before e/i) and 'z' are pronounced with a 'th' sound, like in the English word 'think' (this is called 'distinción').