How to pronounce τζ in Greek
τζ says dz, as at the end of “kids”. It is the voiced partner of τσ, ts.
Two letters, one sound: τζάμι is [DZAH-mee], a pane of glass. Don’t split it into t and z, and don’t read it as the ts of “pizza”.
Why Greek spells dz with two letters
Greek has no letter of its own for the dz sound, so it is written τζ. It pairs with τσ the way d pairs with t: τσ is ts, with no voice, and τζ is dz, with the voice on. English has dz at the end of words like “kids” and “beds”; Greek also puts it at the start. A common English slip: in words like “Ritz” or “waltz”, tz says ts, and English speakers often say tzatziki with ts too. In Greek τζ is always voiced: [dzah-DZEE-kee].
Examples
The dz sound comes at the start of a word and in the middle.
- τζάμιDZAH-mee · glass (a pane of glass)
- τζάκιDZAH-kee · fireplace
- τζατζίκιdzah-DZEE-kee · tzatziki
- τζινdzeen · jeans
The capitals in a respelling mark the stressed syllable: say DZEE louder than dzah and kee.
If you hear j
Many words with τζ came from other languages: τζιν is jeans, τζακούζι is jacuzzi. In them you may hear the j of “jeans”, and in borrowed words Greeks often do say something close to j. Even so, it is always written τζ, and the reading rule is dz: that is how τζ sounds in most words.
Check yourself
How do you say τζιπ (jeep)?
Show the answer
τζιπ is [dzeep]: τζ gives dz.
Which word starts with a dz sound?
Show the answer
A dz at the start of a word is written τζ: τζόγος is [DZO-ghos]. τσίχλα starts with ts, and ζόρι with z.
How do you say τζαμαρία (a glass wall or a large window)?
Show the answer
τζαμαρία is [dzah-mah-REE-ah]: τζ gives dz. Even if you hear something close to j in casual speech, read it dz.