Tricks to learn phonemes /z/, /ʒ/, and /dʒ/ in English words
1. /z/ — Voiced alveolar
fricative
Sound: Like the buzzing sound in "zoo"
or "buzz"
How to spot:
- It sounds
like the letter "z" or "zz" in words.
- It is a
buzzing /z/ sound, similar to a vibrating "s".
- Common in
plurals ending with -s (e.g., dogs /dɒɡz/), and present in
words like "zip," "lazy," "music."
- Try feeling
your vocal cords: they vibrate when you say /z/.
Example
words: zoo, buzz, zero,
lazy, music
2. /ʒ/ — Voiced postalveolar
fricative
Sound: Like the "s" in "measure"
or the "g" in "genre"
How to spot:
- This sound
is rarer and softer than /z/.
- Usually
found in the middle or end of words, not at the start.
- Often
spelled as s (measure), g (genre), zh (in
borrowings).
- It sounds
like a smooth buzzing or “zh” sound — think of the sound in "vision",
"decision".
- Vocal cords
vibrate, and airflow is more restricted than /z/.
Example
words: measure, vision,
pleasure, genre, decision
3. /dʒ/ — Voiced postalveolar
affricate
Sound: Like the "j" in "judge"
or "g" in "giant"
How to spot:
- This is a
combination of a stop + fricative: first a quick stop /d/, then a
fricative /ʒ/.
- Usually
spelled j, g (before e, i, y), or dg.
- Found often
at the start or middle of words.
- Sounds like
a sharp “j” sound, stronger than /ʒ/.
- Vocal cords
vibrate, and the airflow is completely stopped then released with
friction.
Example
words: judge, giant,
jump, edge, enjoy
Quick summary table:
|
Symbol |
Sound
Example |
Spelling
Clue |
Position
in Word |
|
/z/ |
buzz, zoo |
z, zz, s
(plural endings) |
Start, middle,
end |
|
/ʒ/ |
measure, genre |
s, g (in
borrowings) |
Mostly middle
or end |
|
/dʒ/ |
judge, jump |
j, g (before
e/i/y), dg |
Start or middle |
Easy tip to remember:
- /z/ = buzzing
"z" sound
- /ʒ/ = soft
"zh" like in "pleasure"
- /dʒ/ =
"j" sound like "judge"
In short learn here.
1.
/z/ — Voiced alveolar fricative
- Sounds like
buzzing “z” or vibrating “s”
- Often
spelled z, zz, or s (in plurals)
- Common at
start, middle, or end of words
- Vocal cords
vibrate when you say it
- Examples: zoo, buzz,
zip, lazy, dogs
2.
/ʒ/ — Voiced postalveolar fricative
- Softer, rare
buzzing “zh” sound like “s” in measure
- Usually in
middle or end of words, not at the start
- Spelled as s
(measure), g (genre), or zh (borrowings)
- Vocal cords
vibrate, airflow more restricted than /z/
- Examples: measure,
pleasure, genre, vision, decision
3.
/dʒ/ — Voiced postalveolar affricate
- Combination
of /d/ + /ʒ/ (stop + fricative)
- Sounds like
sharp “j” in judge
- Spelled j,
g (before e, i, y), or dg
- Found at
start or middle of words
- Vocal cords
vibrate; airflow stops then released with friction
- Examples: judge,
giant, jump, edge, enjoy
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