Medial ZH Words for Speech Therapy

Medial ZH Words are words that have the /ZH/ sound in the middle, such as television, decision, and division. This list has 20 medial-position ZH words for speech therapy practice, and most children master the /ZH/ sound by age 7.

ZH words in the middle: television, decision, division, occasion, unusual, confusion, conclusion, explosion, collision, illusion — plus 10 more below. Medial position surrounds the target sound with other sounds, which builds fluency and carryover into connected speech.

Words:20
Position:Medial

Medial ZH Words — Full List (20 Words)

Every word below has the /ZH/ sound in the middle. Work through five at a time rather than the whole list in one sitting.

televisiondecisiondivisionoccasionunusualconfusionconclusionexplosioncollisionillusioninvasionevasionexposureenclosureprecisionprovisionrevisionsupervisionenvisionerosion
Practice these words with games

How to Practice Medial ZH Words at Home

Strategies for practicing the /ZH/ sound in the middle of words.

1

Break words into syllables and have your child practice the syllable containing the /ZH/ sound first, then put the word back together.

2

Medial position words can be trickier because the /ZH/ sound is surrounded by other sounds. Slow the word down so your child can feel each part.

3

Clap out the syllables of each word and emphasize the syllable with the /ZH/ sound.

4

Use these words in short, natural phrases (e.g., "I see a television") to practice in connected speech.

5

Once your child can say the word slowly with the correct /ZH/ sound, gradually speed up to a natural pace.

Practice Sentences with Medial ZH Words

Read these sentences aloud. Words with the /ZH/ sound in medial position are highlighted.

It is a pleasure to watch television during my leisure time.

Her decision about the division caused some confusion.

The usual version of the story has a surprise conclusion.

The magician's illusion was an unusual vision.

Medial ZH Words — Frequently Asked Questions

What are examples of ZH words in the medial position?
This page lists 20 ZH words that have the /ZH/ sound in the middle, including television, decision, division, occasion, unusual, confusion, conclusion, explosion, collision, illusion.
What age should a child master the ZH sound?
Most children master the /ZH/ sound by age 7. It is one of the last consonants to settle in, partly because it is so rare that children hear it far less often than other sounds. Because /ZH/ shares its mouth position with /SH/, it usually arrives once /SH/ is solid and voicing is under control.
How do you make the ZH sound?
Set your mouth up exactly as you would for /SH/: round your lips slightly and push them forward, then pull your tongue back so the wide front part sits close to the roof of your mouth, just behind the bumpy ridge. The sides of your tongue touch your upper back teeth. Now turn your voice on and let the air buzz through the channel. Where /SH/ is a quiet "shhh," /ZH/ is a humming "zhhh" — put a hand on your throat and you should feel it vibrate.
What are common ZH sound errors?
The most common /ZH/ errors are: Devoicing: saying /SH/ instead of /ZH/ (e.g., "meashure" for "measure"); Substituting /J/ (e.g., "garaj" for "garage" or "vidgeon" for "vision"); Substituting /Z/ (e.g., "treazure" for "treasure"); Stopping the airflow so the sound starts with a /D/ press instead of buzzing continuously; Losing the sound entirely inside longer words (e.g., "telvision," "decidion").
How do you practice medial ZH words at home?
Break words into syllables and have your child practice the syllable containing the /ZH/ sound first, then put the word back together. Medial position words can be trickier because the /ZH/ sound is surrounded by other sounds. Slow the word down so your child can feel each part.

More ZH Word Lists & Resources

Practice the /ZH/ sound in the other word positions, or use the full sound guide and word list.

Initial ZH Words

20 words with tips

Final ZH Words

20 words with tips

ZH Sound Guide

How to make it, common errors, FAQ

All ZH Words

Complete 60-word list, all positions

Speech Sound Development Chart

What age each sound should appear

Speech Therapy Games

Practice ZH words with interactive activities

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