Which IPA symbol represents the voiceless alveolar fricative?

• A. /z/
• B. /h/
• C. /s/
• D. /ʃ/

Answer: (C)

Think of a voiceless alveolar fricative as air being squeezed through a narrow pass right behind the upper front teeth, with no vibration of the vocal cords. That combination of place (alveolar ridge), manner (fricative), and voicing (voiceless) is what defines this sound. The IPA symbol for it is s, as in sun or see.

This is different from the others: the same spot and manner but with voice—that would be a z sound, as in zoo, where the vocal cords do vibrate. A glottal fricative like h is produced at the vocal folds themselves, not at the alveolar ridge, so it isn’t alveolar. A sound like sh is also a fricative but produced further back (postalveolar), not at the alveolar ridge.