The two sounds of the Italian z in Italian

1. 1
   zaino/ˈdzajno/

   backpacknoun

   A bag with two straps that you carry on your back.
2. 2
   stazione/statˈtsjone/

   stationnoun

   The place where trains stop so people can get on and off.
3. 3
   piazza/ˈpjattsa/

   squarenoun

   A large open space among the houses of a town or city.
4. 4
   negozio/neˈɡɔttsjo/

   shopnoun

   A place where things are sold to the public.
5. 5
   prezzo/ˈprɛttso/

   pricenoun

   How much money you have to give to get something.
6. 6
   alzare/alˈtsare/

   to liftverb

   To pick something up and carry it higher.
7. 7
   forza/ˈfɔrtsa/

   strengthnoun

   The ability to lift or push heavy things.
8. 8
   pranzo/ˈprandzo/

   lunchnoun

   The meal eaten in the middle of the day.
9. 9
   mezzo/ˈmɛddzo/

   halfadjective

   Being half of something.
10. 10
    grazie/ˈɡrattsje/

    thanksnoun

    An expression used to thank someone.

The sentences

1. Ho lasciato lo zaino nel deposito della stazione.

   I left my backpack in the station's storage room.

2. Scusi, quanto manca a piedi fino alla stazione?

   Excuse me, how far is it on foot to the station?

3. Ci vediamo in piazza davanti alla fontana grande.

   Let's meet in the square in front of the big fountain.

4. Quel negozio apre solo dopo le tre del pomeriggio.

   That shop only opens after three in the afternoon.

5. Mi scusi, questo prezzo comprende anche il servizio?

   Excuse me, does this price include the service too?

6. Mi puoi aiutare ad alzare questa valigia pesante?

   Can you help me lift this heavy suitcase?

7. Non ho la forza di portare lo zaino tutto il giorno.

   I don't have the strength to carry the backpack all day.

8. Dopo pranzo passiamo un momento in quel negozio.

   After lunch we're stopping by that shop for a moment.

9. Vorrei mezzo chilo di quelle olive, grazie.

   I'd like half a kilo of those olives, thanks.

10. Grazie, allora ci vediamo dopo il pranzo in piazza.

    Thanks, so we'll see each other after lunch in the square.

Pronunciation

• zaino/ˈdzajno/

  The initial z is voiced, like a d attached before the sound; 'ai' is a diphthong, just one syllable.

• stazione/statˈtsjone/

  Stress falls on -zio-, and the z is voiceless and long.

• piazza/ˈpjattsa/

  The zz is voiceless and held long; 'pia' is said all in a single syllable.

• negozio/neˈɡɔttsjo/

  Stress falls on -go-, with an open o; the z is voiceless.

• prezzo/ˈprɛttso/

  The e is open and the zz is voiceless and long.

• alzare/alˈtsare/

  Stress falls on -za-, with a voiceless z.

• forza/ˈfɔrtsa/

  The o is open and the z is voiceless.

• pranzo/ˈprandzo/

  Here the z is voiced, not voiceless: it sounds like a d joined to the z.

• mezzo/ˈmɛddzo/

  The e is open and the zz is voiced and long.

• grazie/ˈɡrattsje/

  The zz, written with a single z, is still voiceless and long; the stress falls on gra-.

Questions

How do you say "thank you" in Italian?

You say "grazie."

What's the Italian word for "square"?

"Piazza."

How do you ask if a price includes the service?

"Mi scusi, questo prezzo comprende anche il servizio?"