The letter S: listen, repeat, and write
Snake · ثُعبان
Letter name: إس · Letter sound: سْ /s/
How to say the letter S
Bring the teeth close and push air through the middle: 'sss' like a snake. Identical to the Arabic seen.
In phonics we teach the sound of a letter before its name, because the sound is what the child uses when reading. The name of S is "إس" in Arabic script, but when we read Snake we hear the sound /s/.
Words that start with S
Tap a word to hear it, then repeat it with your child
Short sentence
The snake sees the sun.
الثعبان يرى الشمس.
Trace the letter Ss
Write with your finger or mouse over the faded letter, then try the small letter
Letter S worksheets to print
Trace capital S
Dotted tracing rows for capital S with a Snake picture.
Trace small s
Dotted tracing rows for small s on handwriting lines.
Picture and word
Ss with a Snake picture and words that start with the letter to read, trace and colour.
Colour the letter S
Big outline capital and small letters to colour with the word Snake.
Find and circle S
A grid of mixed letters: find capital S and small s and circle them.
Which words start with S?
8 words in English and Arabic: colour the star next to the words that start with the S sound.
Tip for parents and teachers
The shape of S looks like a snake and so does its sound. Draw a snake together and say 'ssss'.
What comes after S?
FAQ about the letter S
How is the letter S pronounced?
The letter name is "S". Its reading (phonics) sound is /s/, closest to the Arabic حرف السين (س). Bring the teeth close and push air through the middle: 'sss' like a snake. Identical to the Arabic seen.
What is the difference between the name and the sound of S?
We use the name when spelling, but the sound is what we hear at the start of Snake. In phonics we teach the sound first because it is what the child needs to read words.
Which words start with S for kids?
Snake (ثعبان), Sun (شمس), Sock (جورب), Star (نجمة), Spoon (ملعقة). Listen to each one on this page.
How do I teach my child the letter S at home?
The shape of S looks like a snake and so does its sound. Draw a snake together and say 'ssss'. Then print the free tracing sheet and write capital S and small s together.