The letter Z has two voices one is voiced [dz] and the other is voiceless [ts].
A). La suona sonora (The voiced sound).
The letter z is pronounced as [dz]:
1). When it is followed by two vowels, the first of which is not an (i).
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Zoo (Zoo) | [dzɔo] |
| Zaino (Backpack) | [dzajno] |
2). When it is found between two vowels.
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Ozono (Ozone) | [od’dzɔno] |
| Azoto (Nitrogen) | [od’dzɔto] |
3). With verbs ending in (izzare) except [rizzare(raise)].
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Organizzare (To organize) | [organjd’dare] |
| Armonizzare (To harmonize) | [armonid’dzare] |
| Penalizzare (To penalize) | [penalid’dzare] |
| Concretizzare (To concrete) | [konkretid’dare] |
| Utilizzare (To use) | [utilid’dzare] |
B). La suona sorda (the voiceless sound).
The letter z is pronounced as [ts]:
1). When it is followed by the letter i
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Zio (Uncle) | [tsio] |
| Pazzia (Madness) | [pat’tsia] |
| Anziano (Elderly) | [an’tsjano] |
| Grazia (Grace) | [grattsja] |
| Divorzio (Divorce) | [di’vɔrtsjo] |
2). When it comes after the letter L. except [elzeviro, belzerbù]
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Alzare (To raise up) | [al’tsare] |
| Calza (Stocking) | [kaltsa] |
| Scalzo (Barefoot) | [skaltso] |
| Calzolaio (Shoemaker) | [kaltso’lajo] |
| Milza (Spleen) | [miltsa] |
3). With words ending in -zione
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Terminazione (Termination) | [terminat’tsjone] |
| Lezione (Lesson) | [let’tsione] |
| Nazione (Nation) | [nat’tsjone] |
| Stazione (Station) | [stat’tsjone] |
| Accezione (Acceptation) | [attʃet’tsjone] |
4). When it is doubled except [azzardo – azzuro – brezza]
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Pizza (Pizza) | [pittsa] |
| Piazza (Square) | [pjattsa] |
| Pazzo (Crazy) | [pattso] |
| Struzzo (Ostrich) | [struttso] |
| Carrozza (Carriage) | [kar’rɔttsa] |
| Bellezza (Beauty) | [bel’lettsa] |
5). with words ending in [anza, enza]
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Assenza (Absence) | [as’sɛntsa] |
| Senza (Senza) | [sɛntsa] [sentsa] |
| Mancanza (Lack) | [man’kantsa] |
| Pazienza (Patience) | [pat’tsjɛntsa] |
| Violenza (Violence) | [vjo’lɛntsa] |
| Stanza (Room) | [stantsa] |
6). with words ending in [orzo – orza – erza- erzo – arzo]
| Esempio (Example) | Pronuncia (Pronounce) |
| Sforzo (Effort) | [sfɔrtso] |
| Forza (Force) | [fɔrtsa] |
| Scorza (Zest) | [skɔrtsa] [skɔrtza] |
| Terza (Third) | [tɛrtsa] |
| Sterzo (Steering) | [stɛrtso] |
| Marzo (March) | [martso] |