ch, sh or j? How to tell /tʃ/, /ʃ/ and /dʒ/ apart
Short answer: Three similar sounds are often mixed up: /tʃ/ in chip, /ʃ/ in ship and /dʒ/ in jam. Sh is a smooth stream of air. Ch starts with a stop, like /t/, then releases into /ʃ/. J is the same as ch, but with your voice on. Practice them as a trio.
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At a glance
| Sound | Spelling | How it feels | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| /ʃ/ | sh | smooth air, no stop | ship, share |
| /tʃ/ | ch | a stop, then air, no voice | chip, chair |
| /dʒ/ | j, g (soft) | a stop, then air, with voice | jam, giant |
How to make the sound
- For /ʃ/, push air smoothly with rounded lips. No stop.
- For /tʃ/, press the tongue up first, then release into /ʃ/. No buzz.
- For /dʒ/, do the same as /tʃ/ but turn the voice on. Feel the buzz.
- Practice the trio: chip – ship – jam.
Pairs to practice
| /tʃ/ | /ʃ/ | /dʒ/ |
|---|---|---|
| chip | ship | gym |
| cheap | sheep | jeep |
| chair | share | jar |
Examples in sentences
- chip
ch = /tʃ/: /tʃɪp/. - ship
sh = /ʃ/: /ʃɪp/. - jam
j = /dʒ/: /dʒæm/. - chair
ch = /tʃ/: /tʃɛr/. - share
sh = /ʃ/: /ʃɛr/. - juice
j = /dʒ/: /dʒus/.
Common problems
- Saying ch as sh: chip becomes ship. Start with a stop for ch.
- Saying j as ch: jam becomes cham. Turn your voice on for j.
- Saying sh as s: ship becomes sip. Round your lips for sh.
For Vietnamese speakers
- Vietnamese has a sound close to /tʃ/ (ch), but /dʒ/ has no direct match, so it may be replaced by /z/. Make sure j starts with a stop.
- Final /tʃ/ and /dʒ/ (watch, page) need clear endings.
Check yourself
- Which sound begins “ship”?
Show the answer
/ʃ/ Smooth air.
- Which sound begins “jam”?
Show the answer
/dʒ/ Voiced.
- Which sound begins “chip”?
Show the answer
/tʃ/ A stop, then air.
Questions
What is the difference between ch and j?
Both start with a stop. Ch is voiceless and j is voiced.
Is g ever /dʒ/?
Yes: before e, i, y it often says /dʒ/ (giant, gem).
How do I practice?
Say chip, ship, jam several times, and feel the voice in jam.
More lessons in this part
- sh or s? ship, sip
- Short i or long ee? ship, sheep
- th, s or d? think, sink, they, day
- l, r or n? light, right, night
- a, e or u? bag, beg, bug
Part of the 👄 Pronunciation tool: Sound Contrast & Articulation. See also the English pronunciation guide. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30
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