/z/

The /z/ sound in English is a voiced alveolar sibilant, which means it’s a sound made by directing a stream of air with the tongue towards the sharp edge of the teeth, with vocal cord vibration. Here’s how you pronounce it:

• Position your tongue: For the /z/ sound, your tongue should be close to the upper alveolar ridge (the bumpy ridge behind your upper front teeth). The tip of your tongue should be lowered just enough so that air can flow above it and out of your mouth.
• Voicing: The /z/ sound is a voiced consonant, meaning your vocal cords vibrate when you produce this sound. You should feel a vibration if you lightly touch the front of your throat while saying the sound.
• Release the sound: As your tongue is positioned close to the alveolar ridge, direct a stream of air over the tongue and out of your mouth. The air should flow continuously, creating a buzzing sound (like a bee).