IPA: [ts]

German z

German "z" is pronounced like "ts" — as in "cats" or "pizza". Never like English "z" in "zebra".

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English approximation

Always "ts" — like the end of "cats"

Pronunciation tips

1."zu" sounds like "tsoo" not "zoo"

2."zehn" sounds like "tseyn"

3.Practice: say "cats" and hold the "ts" part

4.Also applies to "tz": "Katze" = "KAT-tseh"