The z that sounds like ts in German

1. 1
   Zeit/tsaɪ̯t/

   timenoun

   That which keeps passing and is measured in hours, days, and years.
2. 2
   Katze/ˈkatsə/iAlso said ˈkatːsə.

   catnoun

   A small furry pet with whiskers and sharp claws that meows.
3. 3
   Zitrone/tsiˈtʁoːnə/

   lemonnoun

   A yellow fruit with a thick peel that tastes very sour.
4. 4
   Zwiebel/ˈtsviːbəl/

   onionnoun

   A round bulb made of many layers that tastes sharp and stings your eyes when you cut it.
5. 5
   Herz/hɛʁts/

   heartnoun

   The organ in the chest that pumps blood through the body.
6. 6
   Salz/zalts/

   saltnoun

   White grains you add to food to make it taste stronger.
7. 7
   Zylinder/tsyˈlɪndɐ/

   top hatnoun

   A tall, round hat with a stiff brim that people used to wear with formal clothing.
8. 8
   sitzen/ˈzɪtsən/

   to sitverb

   To rest your bottom on a chair or on the ground instead of standing.
9. 9
   tanzen/ˈtantsən/

   to danceverb

   To move to the rhythm of music.
10. 10
    zwingen/ˈtsvɪŋən/

    to forceverb

    To make someone do something they don't want to do.

The sentences

1. Haben Sie heute Nachmittag Zeit für einen Kaffee?

   Do you have time for a coffee this afternoon?

2. Die Katze der Nachbarn kommt jeden Abend zu uns.

   The neighbors' cat comes over to us every evening.

3. Können Sie mir bitte eine Zitrone zum Tee bringen?

   Could you bring me a lemon for my tea, please?

4. Ich möchte den Salat bitte ohne Zwiebel bestellen.

   I'd like to order the salad without onion, please.

5. Mein Herz klopft seit heute Morgen viel zu schnell.

   My heart has been racing since this morning.

6. Reichen Sie mir bitte das Salz und den Pfeffer?

   Could you pass me the salt and pepper, please?

7. Auf dem Foto trägt mein Großvater einen hohen Zylinder.

   In the photo, my grandfather is wearing a tall top hat.

8. Können wir lieber draußen in der Sonne sitzen?

   Could we sit outside in the sun instead?

9. Nach dem Essen wollen wir noch ein wenig tanzen.

   After dinner we want to dance a little.

10. Niemand kann Sie zwingen, hier etwas zu unterschreiben.

    No one can force you to sign anything here.

Pronunciation

• Zitrone/tsiˈtʁoːnə/

  The stress falls on the second syllable, and the o in it is long.

• Zwiebel/ˈtsviːbəl/

  The z at the start sounds like ts, followed by the w, and the i is long. The stress falls on the first syllable.

• Salz/zalts/

  The S at the start buzzes like the s in "zoo", and at the end you hear t and s together.

• Zylinder/tsyˈlɪndɐ/

  The y sounds like a German ü, and the stress falls on the second syllable.

• sitzen/ˈzɪtsən/

  The S at the start sounds soft and buzzing, and the i after it is short.

Good to know

Trinkgeld

At a restaurant you usually round up the bill or add about 5 to 10 percent. You tell the server the total amount rather than leaving cash on the table.

Kurtaxe

In many resort towns you pay a small tourist tax on top of your stay. It's often listed separately on the bill.

Ruhezeiten

On Sundays and during midday quiet hours, people are expected to keep noise down in residential areas. This especially applies to lawn mowing and loud music.

Questions

How do you pronounce the z in Zwiebel?

The z at the start sounds like ts, followed by the w, and the i is long. The stress falls on the first syllable.

What does Zylinder mean here?

A tall, round hat with a stiff brim that people used to wear with formal clothing.

Does the S in Salz sound like the z in Zylinder?

No: the S at the start of Salz buzzes like the s in "zoo", and at the end you hear t and s together, while the z in Zylinder is pronounced ts.