zz In Standard German
The letter combination "zz" appears mainly in loanwords. Its pronunciation depends strongly on word origin, especially Italian and English.
Letter Combination | zz |
|---|---|
Name | zz (pronounced /t͡sɛt t͡sɛt/) |
Common Sound(s) | /ts/, /z/, /s/ |
The Letter Combination "zz"
Sound 1: /ts/ (Italian loanwords between vowels)
In many Italian loanwords, especially between vowels, "zz" is pronounced /ts/.
Pizza → /ˈpɪtsa/
pizza
Mozzarella → /mɔtsaˈrɛla/
mozzarella
Sound 2: /z/ (English loanwords)
In some English loanwords, especially at syllable onset, "zz" can be pronounced /z/.
Jacuzzi → /dʒaˈkuːzi/
Jacuzzi
Sound 3: /s/ or /z/ (English loanwords)
In English loanwords, especially at the end of words or syllables, "zz" may be pronounced /s/ or /z/, depending on adaptation.
Jazz → /dʒɛs/ ~ /dʒæz/
jazz
Note: Strong adaptation in German
Across most loanwords, "zz" is not a native German consonant pattern. Its pronunciation is therefore highly dependent on the source language, with Italian borrowings typically producing /ts/ and English borrowings showing /s/ or /z/ variation.
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