Which IPA symbol represents the voiceless alveolar fricative?

• A. /z/
• B. /h/
• C. /ʃ/
• D. /s/

Answer: (D)

The sound in question is produced with air flowing through a narrow constriction at the alveolar ridge, with no vibration of the vocal cords. That combination—alveolar place of articulation, fricative manner, and voiceless voicing—is exactly what the symbol /s/ represents, as heard in the initial sound of “see” or “sun.”

Why this one fits best: /s/ matches both the place (alveolar) and the manner (fricative) and the voiceless setting, giving the clear, hiss-like edge you hear in words like "see." The other options don’t share this exact combination. /z/ is the voiced counterpart of the fricative at the same place, so it involves vocal fold vibration. /h/ is a fricative too, but it’s produced at the glottis, not at the alveolar ridge. /ʃ/ is a fricative too, but its place of articulation is postalveolar (behind the alveolar ridge), as in “ship,” not alveolar.