How to say the SN sound
SN as in snakeIPA: /sn/
Many children can say the SN sound by about 4–5 years. Some take longer, and that can be normal.
You can hear the SN sound in words like snake, snap and snail. On this page you can listen to it, see how to make it, and find games to practise it.
Hear the sound
Press play as many times as you like.
How to make the SN sound
- Start with S: tongue near your top teeth, voice off, air flowing.
- Move quickly to N: tongue tip behind your top teeth, voice on, sound flows through your nose.
- S flows into N: voice switches on as you move.
Words to practise
- snake
- snap
- snail
- snow
- sniff
Try this sentence
The snake sniffs the snow.
Hear the difference
Each pair sounds almost the same, but one sound is different. Say them slowly and listen for the change.
- snap and nap
- snail and nail
- snow and no
Games for the SN sound
- Feed the Monster
- Magic Orb
- Tower Stacker
- Feed the Puppy
- Bubble Pop
- Echo Cave
- Slingshot Gallery
- Feed the Kiwi
- Treasure Chest
- Feed the Alien
- Word Fishing
- Feed the Dinosaur
- Feed the Robot
- Feed the Bear
- Feed the Dragon
More to listen to
Just the sound
The sound on its own, said once.
Sound and syllables
The sound, then each syllable.
Practise the syllables
Say each syllable along with Molly.
How to make the sound
Step-by-step mouth and tongue tips.
Practice time
Listen and copy each word, then the sentence.
Hear the difference
Listen for how this sound differs from a similar one.
Why there are two voices
One voice says whole words. Molly says the sounds and syllables. Each one says its part clearly, the same way every time.
Tips for practising at home
- Listen to the sound a few times before you try it.
- Say each word slowly and clearly.
- Keep it short. 5 to 10 minutes is plenty.
- Cheer every try, even the ones that aren't perfect.
This is practice, not therapy. If you're worried about your child's speech, talk to a speech-language therapist or your GP.