How to pronounce /z/ in English

Final consonants

How to practise

1. Read the word slowly and hold the last sound for a beat: "bus-sss", "five-vvv".
2. When the next word starts with a vowel, carry the last sound over to it: "like_it" sounds like "lai-kit".
3. Record yourself and listen only to the ends of the words.

Easily confused words

• buy · bike
• why · white
• row · rose
• lie · life
• bee · beef

-s endings

• You said /s/ where the ending is /z/. After a voiced sound, let your voice keep humming into the ending: "dog-zzz".

How to practise

1. Decide which of the three sounds the ending takes, using the table.
2. Say the ending clearly, even when the word is short: "cats", not "cat".
3. Before a word that starts with a vowel, link it: "cats_are".

Easily confused words

• cat · cats
• play · plays
• watch · watches
• book · books
• dog · dogs

Voiced endings

• The ending came out voiceless, so the word turned into another one. Lengthen the vowel before it and let the voice run on.

How to practise

1. In English, what tells "bad" from "bat" is mostly the vowel: it is longer before a voiced ending.
2. Stretch the vowel ("baaad") and keep a little voice as you close.
3. Put your fingers on your throat: you should feel a buzz at the end of "bad" but not "bat".

Easily confused words

• bad · bat
• bag · back
• cab · cap
• prize · price
• eyes · ice
• save · safe

Z and V

• It came out as a /j/ glide. Make real friction: teeth on the lip for /v/, a buzzing hiss for /z/.
• Your lips closed or rounded. For /v/ only your top teeth touch the lower lip.
• Your voice was off. Hum while you make the sound.

How to practise

1. /v/: touch your top teeth to your bottom lip, voice on, and push air through.
2. /z/: like /s/ — tongue near the ridge, a hiss — but with your voice on, like a bee: "zzz".

Easily confused words

• vet · yet
• zoo · you
• vest · best
• very · berry