zeta
/ˈθeta/
The English letter z is called zeta in Spanish.
This term is used to name the last letter of the English alphabet.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈθeta/
Did you know?
- In most of Latin America, the letter z is pronounced exactly like the letter s, a phenomenon called seseo.
- The word zeta shares a common ancestor with the Greek letter zeta, which was also the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet.
- In certain Spanish dialects, the zeta sound is produced by placing the tongue between the teeth, a gesture absent in English 'z'.
Examples in context
- La letra zeta es la última.The letter z is the last one.
- ¿Cómo se escribe la zeta?How do you write the z?
- Esa palabra tiene una zeta.That word has a z.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are practicing their alphabet.
- DanielLucía, ¿cuál es la última letra?Lucía, what is the last letter?
- LucíaLa última letra es la zeta.The last letter is z.
- DanielGracias, ahora ya lo sé.Thanks, now I know it.
- LucíaDe nada, Daniel.You're welcome, Daniel.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry zeta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zeta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
