z / s / x

The Sibilants Z, S and X

Level 1

Basque has three s-like sounds, and each has its own letter: z (sharp s), s (a softer s, close to sh) and x (sh).

How It Works

English has one s. Basque has three, and each one has a letter:

  • z, with the tongue tip down: zu (you), zazpi (seven), zer (what), gazta (cheese).
  • s, with the tongue tip up: su (fire), sei (six), oso (very), esan (to say).
  • x, like English sh: kaixo (hi), Xabier, xagu (mouse).

The difference between z and s can change a word:

  • zu (you) and su (fire)
  • zoro (crazy) and soro (field)

Each of these sounds also has a partner that starts with t: tz, ts and tx. See tz, ts and tx.

In much of Bizkaia and parts of Gipuzkoa, many speakers merge z and s into one sound, so zu and su can sound alike there. Standard pronunciation keeps them apart, and the spelling always does.

The sh sound is also used to make words sound small or sweet: gozo (sweet) becomes goxo (yummy, lovely), and Northern speakers say xoro for zoro (crazy). See diminutives -txo, -xka.

In loanwords, x between vowels is read as ks, as in taxi. In Basque words it is always sh.

Examples (5)

  1. Zu nor zara?

    Who are you?

    Word by Word: You who are?

    Zu and zara both begin with z, the sharp s.

  2. Sua oso beroa da.

    The fire is very hot.

    Word by Word: Fire-the very hot-the is.

    Su (fire) uses s, with the tongue tip raised. Compare zu (you).

  3. Kaixo, Xabier!

    Hi, Xabier!

    Both words have x, which sounds like English sh.

  4. Zazpi lagun gara.

    We are seven friends.

    Word by Word: Seven friend we-are.

    Zazpi (seven) has two z sounds.

  5. Soroan xagu bat dago.

    There is a mouse in the field.

    Word by Word: Field-in mouse one is.

    Soro (field) has s. With z, zoro means crazy. Xagu has the sh sound.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing s where the word needs z.

    Su nor zara?
    Zu nor zara?

    Su means fire. The word for you is zu, with z.

  • Spelling the sh sound with sh or s.

    Kaisho!
    Kaixo!

    Basque always writes the sh sound with x.

  • Spelling seven with s.

    Sazpi lagun gara.
    Zazpi lagun gara.

    The number seven is zazpi, with z twice.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

z / s / xLevel 1The Sibilants Z, S and X

Learn This First

The sibilant letters are learned once the alphabet is familiar.