Sh (digraph)

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Latin_digraph_S_H

Sh is a digraph in the Latin script, consisting of the letters S and H. It is used in various languages to represent a specific sound, typically the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/, similar to the "sh" sound in the English word "ship".

Usage in Different Languages[edit | edit source]

English[edit | edit source]

In English, the digraph "sh" is commonly used to represent the /ʃ/ sound. It appears in many words, such as "ship," "shut," and "fish." The digraph is an essential part of English orthography and is taught early in literacy education.

Albanian[edit | edit source]

In the Albanian language, "sh" represents the same /ʃ/ sound. It is considered a separate letter in the Albanian alphabet and is alphabetized between "s" and "t."

Romanian[edit | edit source]

In the Romanian language, "sh" is not a native digraph but can appear in loanwords and foreign names.

Irish[edit | edit source]

In the Irish language, "sh" is used in the initial position to indicate lenition of "s," changing the sound from /s/ to /h/.

Turkish[edit | edit source]

In the Turkish language, the digraph "sh" is not used. Instead, the sound /ʃ/ is represented by the letter "ş."

Other Languages[edit | edit source]

The digraph "sh" is also used in various other languages, including Welsh, Basque, and Esperanto, each with its specific phonetic and orthographic rules.

Phonetic Representation[edit | edit source]

The sound represented by "sh" is the voiceless postalveolar fricative, which is a common sound in many languages. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), this sound is denoted by the symbol /ʃ/.

Historical Development[edit | edit source]

The digraph "sh" has its origins in the Old English period, where it was used to represent the /ʃ/ sound. Over time, it became standardized in Middle English and has remained a consistent part of English orthography.

Related Digraphs and Trigraphs[edit | edit source]

Other digraphs and trigraphs that represent similar sounds include:

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External Links[edit | edit source]

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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD