ship · sheep · chip · cheap
Four words, two contrasts. Select any words to compare them side by side, then explore the visualizations to understand why they sound the way they do.
Pronunciation Cards
Two contrasts at once: sh vs ch (initial consonant) and short /ɪ/ vs long /iː/ (vowel length)
← → Left to right: elongate the middle sound — /ɪ/ becomes /iː/
↑ ↓ Top to bottom: change the first sound — /ʃ/ becomes /tʃ/ (add “t” before the “sh”)
a vessel at sea · or · to ship a package
mouth shape
lips relaxed, mouth slightly open
ship
/ʃɪp/
mouth shape
lips stretched wide, like saying cheese 😬
sheep
/ʃiːp/
mouth shape
lips relaxed, mouth slightly open
chip
/tʃɪp/
mouth shape
lips stretched wide, like saying cheese 😬
cheap
/tʃiːp/
Sound Duration
Short /ɪ/ cuts off in an instant. Long /iː/ stretches and lingers.
ship
Short vowel /ɪ/ — fast like a ship darting past
sheep
Long vowel /iː/— drawn out like a sheep's baaaa
Compare
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Why these words look the way they sound
Deeper learning — explore the sounds and connections after you've heard them.
Sound visualizations
The dot on the i is a tiny ship — a reminder this vowel is short /ɪ/
The stretched ee mirrors the long /iː/ — hold it wide like a smile
Vowel length — side by side
Word family diagram ▸
Key difference
ship uses a short /ɪ/ vowel — mouth relaxed, sound brief. All ship-family words (ships, shipping, shipped) share this same short vowel. sheep uses a long /iː/ vowel — hold it longer, lips spread wide. And it never changes form.
How teachers explain this
Approved tips from the community, sorted by helpfulness
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