In the vast kingdom of animals, the zebra is one of the most unique creatures with its iconic black and white stripes. And similarly, its name is also distinctive, with a unique pronunciation. In this article, we will guide you through the correct pronunciation of zebra.
Initial Sounds
The word 'zebra' begins with the sound /z/. This is a voiced alveolar sound, produced by bringing the tongue to the alveolar ridge (the ridge behind your upper front teeth) and vibrating the vocal cords. It is similar to the 's' sound, but with vibrations.
Following the /z/ sound is the vowel sound /iː/. This is a long 'ee' sound, produced by keeping the tongue flat and forward in the mouth, whilst stretching the lips horizontally.
Ending Sounds
The zebra's final sound is a bit tricky to pronounce. It consists of two sounds merged together: /b/ and /r/. Firstly, you need to purse your lips together to produce the /b/ sound, which is a voiced bilabial plosive sound. Secondly, you need to produce a sound called the 'alveolar tap' or 'flap', which is made by tapping the tongue once against the alveolar ridge. This produces the /r/ sound.
When the two sounds are put together, it can be challenging to differentiate between them. So, it's worth practising this part of the pronunciation until it becomes more comfortable.
Stress
Lastly, it's essential to note the syllable stress in the word 'zebra'. The stress falls on the first syllable, which means that it is pronounced with more emphasis than the last syllable. So, the full pronunciation of zebra is 'zee-bruh' with the first syllable pronounced louder and longer than the second.
In conclusion, the pronunciation of zebra is a combination of voiced and unvoiced sounds, as well as two different mouth placements, with the stress falling on the first syllable. With a bit of practice, anyone can master this unique pronunciation and impress their friends with their knowledge of the fascinating zebra.