18. [z]
/z/ as in ZOO /zu/, BUSY /ˈbɪzi/, and BUZZ /bʌz/
PRONOUNCING /z/
TONGUE: is in the
same position as for /s/
AIRSTREAM: is
continuous without
interruption.
VOCAL CORDS: are vibrating.
In many dialects of Spanish, the letter s followed by a voiced consonant (m, l, d, g) is pronounced like /z/.
EXAMPLES: mismo isla desde rasgar
POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER
The sound /z/ is not a common sound in Spanish. You probably pronounce the letter z in English the same way as you would in Spanish (like /s/). Also, irregular English spelling patterns contribute to your problems with this consonant.
EXAMPLES:
If you say /s/ instead of /z/:
zoo /zu/ will sound like Sue /su/
eyes /aɪz/ will sound like ice /aɪs/
prize /praɪz/ will sound like price /praɪs/
Remember, /z/ is a voiced sound; your vocal cords MUST vibrate, or you will say /s/ by mistake. Think of the "buzzing" sound of a bee (bZZZZZZZZZ) and you'll say your Z's with EASE!
EXERCISE A
The following words should be pronounced with /z/. Pronounce them carefully. Be sure to add voice by making your vocal cords vibrate.
/z/ At the Beginning
/z/ In the Middle
/z/ At the End
zoo /zu/
zeal /zil/
zest /zɛst/
zinc /zɪŋk/
zero /ˈzɪroʊ/
zone /zoʊn/
zebra /ˈzibrə/
zipper /ˈzɪpɚ/
lazy /ˈleɪzi/
busy /ˈbɪzi/
easy /ˈizi/
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/
razor /ˈreɪzɚ/
dozen /ˈdʌzən/
dizzy /ˈdɪzi/
cousin /ˈkʌzən/
puzzle /ˈpʌzəl/
as /æz/
is /ɪz/
his /hɪz/
was /wʌz/
buzz /bʌz/
daze /deɪz/
raise /reɪz/
amaze /əˈmeɪz/
breeze /briz/
/z/ Spelled:
“z”
zip /zɪp/
size /saɪz/
seize /siz/
lizard /ˈlɪzɚd/
sneeze /sniz/
“s”
has /hæz/
eyes /aɪz/
rose /roʊz/
these /ðiz/
bruise /bruz/
The letter x is a less common spelling pattern for /z/.
EXAMPLES:
xylophone /ˈzaɪləˌfoʊn/
xerox /ˈzɪrɑks/
HINTS:
1.The letter z is usually pronounced /z/.
EXAMPLES:
zipper
/ˈzɪpɚ/
cozy
/ˈkoʊzi/
freeze
/friz/
2. The letter s is usually pronounced /z/ when between vowels in a stressed syllable.
EXAMPLES:
deserve
/dɪˈzɚv/
because
/bɪˈkʌz/
resign
/rɪˈzaɪn/
present /ˈprɛzənt/
3. The letter s in plural nouns is pronounced /z/ when it follows a vowel or most voiced consonants.
EXAMPLES:
shoes
/ʃuz/
legs
/lɛɡz/
leaves
/livz/
beds
/bɛdz/