How to say the STR sound

STR as in streetIPA: /str/

Many children can say the STR sound by about 5–7 years. Some take longer, and that can be normal.

You can hear the STR sound in words like street, string and strike. 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 STR sound

Start with S: tongue near your top teeth, voice off.
Move to T: tongue tip behind your top teeth, a small puff of air.
Flow into R: curl your tongue back, sides up, voice on.
S, then T, then R: keep all three sounds close together.

Words to practise

street
string
strike
strong
stream

Try this sentence

Strong streams run down the street.

Hear the difference

Each pair sounds almost the same, but one sound is different. Say them slowly and listen for the change.

string and sting
strip and trip
street and treat

Games for the STR sound

All games →

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.

More practice for this sound is coming soon in our lessons. Join the waitlist

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.