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

English

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

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

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

Irish

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

Turkish

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

Other Languages

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

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

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

Other digraphs and trigraphs that represent similar sounds include:

• Ch
• Sch
• Zh

See Also

• Digraph (orthography)
• Voiceless postalveolar fricative
• Latin alphabet
• English orthography
• Albanian alphabet
• International Phonetic Alphabet