'Z, adj.

z
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/z_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1921; not fully revised

# 'Zadjective

## Earlier version

- 'Z in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the adjective 'Z mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adjective 'Z. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

#### Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

### How is the adjective 'Z pronounced?

#### British English

/z/
z

#### U.S. English

/z/
z

### Where does the adjective 'Z come from?

'Z is a variant or alteration of another lexical item.

Etymons: 'S n.2

### Nearby entries

1. 4x4, n. 1937–
2. 5-methylcytosine, n. 1903–
3. 70-year-old, n. & adj. 1832–
4. 73, n. 1855–
5. 78, n. 1949–
6. 800 number, n. 1971–
7. 900 number, n. 1977–
8. 911, n. 1968–
9. 999, n. 1937–
10. Z, n. Old English–
11. 'Z, adj.
12. za, n. 1968–
13. zaatar, n. 1917–
14. zabaglione, n. 1899–
15. zabernism, n. 1916–21
16. zabernize, v. 1914
17. zabra, n. 1523–
18. zabuton, n. 1879–
19. zac, n. 1898–
20. 'zackly | 'zactly, adv. 1886–
21. zad, n. 1669–

## Etymology

### Summary

A variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymon: 'S n.2
Variant of 'S n.2, reflecting its voiced pronunciation.

## Meaning & use

1. Phonetic spelling of 'S as a euphemistic shortening of God's in certain oaths: see zbloud at 'Sblood n. Forms, Z'Death at 'Sdeath int. Forms, zfoot at 'Sfoot int. Forms, Z'life n., &c.
   euphemistic

## Pronunciation

### British English

/z/
z

### U.S. English

/z/
z

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

'Z, adj. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

'Z, adj. was last modified in September 2024.