Word Lists
SH Words
A searchable SH word list you can filter by position, syllables, and word type, organized by sound for speech practice.
SH is the quiet shhh sound you make to hush a room. It hides at the start of shoe, the middle of ocean, and the end of fish. Because these are grouped by the sound and not the spelling, words like ocean, sure, and nation all count, even with no s or h in them.
All SH words (600)
Search the full list, or filter by position (initial, medial, final), word type, and syllable count. Every word is grouped by sound, not spelling.
Position
Word type
Syllables
600 results of 600 SH words
Initial SH (150)
showshortshotshareshipshopshootshapesugarshirtshiftshamesharpshocksheetshellshakeshoresureshoechefshedsheepshineshadeshysharkshoutshookshelfshaftshaveshahshaleshinchicshowingshoveshootingshownshoppingshireshamshackshearshutsheenshippingshredshouldershowershrugshanchuteshrubshawlshaysheikshieldshanksheltercharlotteshardsheriffshakingshortsshootershadshallowshanghaishuntshiftingshiningshoutingshimshonashowcasesheffieldshortagechampagneshepherdshuttleshillsheershotgunsheafshrimpshipmentsherlockshrineshrinkshapingshuttingshinyshavingshutdownshampooshadyshovelshowdownshuffleshuttershrinkingsheddingsherrychevychateaushadingchevroncheyenneshipyardshakysharpershakershieldingshamanshoppershellingchauffeurshillingshroudsheathshorthandshellfishshrapnelshutoutsurelyshockershowroomshetlandshipwreckshuddershinglesshortlychaletshufflingschillershivershunshoddyshortstopshareholdershoneshiftershortfallsharpnessshippershapedshimmershingle
Medial SH (370)
issueoceansocialspecialactionashespressurerussianstationsectionratiorussianationalmachinenationmissionspeciesfashionoptionfunctionpatientmentionsessionusherpositionmotionofficialproductionportionattentionelectionsessionswashingtonfishingfictionpassionpushingadditionpotentialfriendshipbishopconstructioncollectioninsurancepashadirectioncommercialcommissionworshipauctionconditionlocationprotectionsolutioninformationpensiontensionfoundationeditionpatienceleadershipnotionpartialconnectioninternationalsunshineworkshopdescriptionreactionwashinginitialdiscussioneducationmartialyorkshirethresholdfishermansionselectionessentialhampshirefreshmantownshipcautionconsciencecreationdepressionfractionrelationshipexpressionrushingexpansionjunctionmichiganwishingconventionpermissiontraditionformationsituationpartnershipmarshalmembershipextensiontransitionprofessionalcrushingassociationpopulationpromotionownershipvacationcautiousfactionfascistreductiontranslationpossessiontractiondestructionconsumptioncorruptionexceptionflagshipimpressiondeliciouspunishmentadministrationinfectiontransmissionoperationorganizationcaptioncompetitionfrictionrelationfinishingpetitioninsuredflashingpreventionspecialistapplicationsmashingsuspensionreceptionmushroomgenerationcompletionsocialistegyptiantransactionpollutionemotionbrushescushionglacierperceptionphysicianadoptionreflectioncashierhardshipadmissionconversationinvestigationscholarshipfinishedaddictionconvictiondurationinflationinspectioninstructionmigrationconsciousnessprofessionpublisherattractionberkshireproportionbrushingdistinctionnutritioncommunicationprovincialrotationkrishnaassumptionsubmissiondetectionflashlightrationalsubscriptionlotiondistributioninventionnutshellsanctiondimensioncombinationmusicianwindshielddonationprescriptioncorporationinjectionperfectionresolutionmartiansnapshotdefinitionoppositiontransportationfrustrationsuccessionsuspiciontuitionbrochureconstitutiondetentionhandshakepredictionrevolutionspaceshipsuctioncompassioncorrectionhaitianlegislationsalvationchampionshipunconsciouswasherconjunctiondashboardaffectionintroductionpotionambitionaggressiondiscretionensureobsessionprogressionrejectionsensationspecialtybloodshedlordshipconfessionmilitiaimmigrationrecognitionreputationfellowshipkosherprussianstarshipcensorshipcrochetpublicationrecessionexplanationcommissionerestablishmentarchbishopcitationcompressionredemptionevolutioninspirationinstitutionassuranceespeciallyretentiontaxationextractionoppressionprobationprojectiondistractionefficiencymakeshiftregulationauditionexhibitionobjectionrationclicheextinctionhorseshoeinitiativeissuingrestrictionconceptionbombshellwarshipcontributionrepresentationcompensationcompositionconservationconstitutionalparticipationcontentiondevotionkinshipinnovationpreparationregistrationplantationsponsorshiptemptationfreshnessbookshopcrusherdiscriminationdisruptionfissionimplementationinductionpresentationemissiontechniciancelebrationexecutioninteractionsplashingcollaborationconsiderationfinancialignitionsuppressionfishyconcentrationpartitionradiationsteamshipabsorptionacquisitionexaminationfederationinterventiondeceptionexemptioninceptiondestinationmutationcoalitionassertionimaginationintegrationinterpretationmotivationevaluationinternshippremiershiptransformationoccupationexplorationthrashingvibrationanimationclassificationfascismidentificationoffshootaviationrevolutionary
Final SH (81)
wishcashfishpushcrashirishbushrushwashflashtrashbrushdishfleshcrushashsmashdashclashnashbashflushmeshfinishrashslashcachehashblushlushmashstashhushleashfreshscottishlashplushboschamishsashpolishturkishswedishmushslushboshparishswishgashtoshgushharshdanishrubbishsplashfinnishbacklashsquashfetishkurdishambushflourishmustachetoothbrushanguishcatfishcornishrelishgoldfishjewishposhshellfishthrashflemishyiddishskirmishwhiplashgarnishvarnishstarfish
Practice phrases
Once single words are solid, phrases move the sound toward real speech.
- She sells seashells.
- Wash the dishes.
- The shark swims in the ocean.
- Push the shopping cart.
- I wish for new shoes.
Sound /ʃ/
How to make the SH sound
SH is a fricative: you push a steady stream of air through a narrow gap between the tongue and the roof of the mouth, with the lips slightly rounded and the voice off. It is one sound, not two, even though two letters spell it. Most children produce SH accurately in conversation by around age 4 to 5, so it is a common early articulation target.
Developmental ages from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
SH sound questions
Lift the tongue toward the roof of the mouth without touching it, round the lips slightly, and push a steady stream of air through the gap. The voice stays off, so it is a long, quiet shhh rather than a buzz.