Initial SH words
The /sh/ sound appears near the start of the word.
- shade
- shaft
- shake
- shame
- shape
- share
- shark
- sharp
- shaved
- shaw
84 verified words
View the full listFree articulation word lists
SH Words for Speech Therapy
Find SH words by word position. Each list is checked against the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, so words that carry the SH sound without an sh spelling — such as sugar and ocean — are matched correctly.
SH words by position
Choose a word position to see the full verified list.
/sh/
Medial SH words
The /sh/ sound appears inside the word.
- pushed
- bishop
- cashiers
- dishes
- fashion
- finished
- fisher
- fishing
- flashers
- flashing
610 verified words
View the full listFinal SH words
The /sh/ sound appears near the end of the word.
- ash
- brush
- bush
- cash
- crash
- dash
- dish
- fish
- flash
- flesh
34 verified words
View the full listWhen is /sh/ typically acquired?
- SH as in ship — 90% of US children produce it by 4;11.
Crowe & McLeod (2020), American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
Check any sound by age →How to use these SH word lists
Children working on SH often substitute /s/ — saying sip for ship. Because the two sounds sit close together, minimal pairs contrasting them are a common way to work on the difference.
The lists check where the SH sound appears in each pronunciation, not just the spelling. They do not choose a treatment target or replace clinical judgment.
Validation source
Word pronunciations are checked with the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary.
Create a custom SH sound worksheet
Choose the word position, age range, theme, and word density. Ga-loo will build a checked list and a print-ready PDF.
When do kids master each sound?
Free interactive checker: pick a sound and an age, see the research norm — all 24 consonants, sourced from Crowe & McLeod (2020).
Open the checker →Frequently asked questions
- What are some initial SH words?
- Common initial SH words include shoe, ship, sheep, shark, shell, and shirt. The full initial SH list has 84 verified words.
- What are some medial SH words?
- Medial SH words are matched on pronunciation rather than spelling, so the sound is really in that part of the spoken word. The full medial SH list has 610 verified words.
- What are some final SH words?
- Final SH words are matched on pronunciation rather than spelling, so the sound is really in that part of the spoken word. The full final SH list has 34 verified words.
- When do children master the SH sound?
- By Crowe & McLeod (2020), 90% of US children produce /sh/ by 4;11.
- What is the difference between the S and SH sounds?
- /s/ is made with the tongue tip forward and a narrow airstream; SH is made further back with the lips slightly rounded. Substituting one for the other is a common error, which is why they are often practised as contrasting pairs.
- Can I make a printable SH sound worksheet?
- Yes. Select /sh/, choose a word position and theme, and Ga-loo will create a checked, printable PDF.