Navigating the S and Z Sounds in Spanish: Spain vs. Latin America
The Spanish letters 'S' and 'Z' (and sometimes the 'C') can be pronounced differently depending on whether you are in Spain or in a Latin American country. Understanding these differences can help in both your comprehension and pronunciation.
Pronunciation in Spain
In most parts of Spain, 'Z' and 'C' before 'e' or 'i' are pronounced with a 'th' sound, as in 'think'. This is known as "distinción":
"Zapato" is pronounced as /θa'pato/
"Cerveza" is pronounced as /θer'veθa/
The letter 'S' continues to be pronounced as in English, with a hissing sound.
Pronunciation in Latin America
The 'Z' and 'C' (before 'e' or 'i') are pronounced just like the 'S', which is the same as the English 'S':
"Zapato" is pronounced as /sa'pato/
"Cerveza" is pronounced as /ser'vesa/
This uniform pronunciation of 'S', 'Z', and 'C' before 'e' or 'i' in Latin America is known as "seseo".