z sound
Core Rule
The /z/ sound is a voiced fricative made by z or sometimes s. It appears in plural endings, verb -s, and many root words.
Articulation Guide
Tip of the tongue near the alveolar ridge, slight mouth opening, steady airflow with vocal cord vibration.
Word Focus
zoo, zero; rose, quiz. Mini quiz: feel vibration in zip vs. sip.
Pitfalls
Don’t devoice it to /s/. Final -s after voiced sounds is pronounced /z/.
Phonics Breakdown
Tongue near ridge, steady air, vocal cords vibrating.
Sound Reference
- Touch your throat to feel voicing
- Practice minimal pairs with /s/
Common Mistakes
Devoicing /z/ to /s/
Ignoring voiced plural endings