[z]
Like "z" or "s" in the following English words:
- Zoo
- Buzz
- Is
- Music
Examples:
Azul
/a'zuw/
Blue
Casa
/'ka.za/
House
Zebra
/'ze.bra/
Zebra
Zero
/'ze.ɾu/
Zero
The IPA sound [z] is a voiced alveolar fricative. In Brazilian Portuguese, the [z] sound is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart. You bring the tip of your tongue near the alveolar ridge without touching it completely, allowing the air to pass through the narrow gap. The vocal cords vibrate, producing the voiced quality. It's similar to the 'z' sound in English words like "zoo" or "buzz."