지
ji[t͡ɕi]
The English letter 'z' is written as 지 (ji) in Korean.
This term is used to refer to the twenty-sixth letter of the English alphabet.
How do you pronounce it?
ji
Did you know?
- The Korean script is so flexible that 지 can represent both the English letter 'z' and the English letter 'g' ('gee').
- While most Koreans pronounce the letter as 지, speakers of the Pyongan and Yukjin dialects may still use the older pronunciation 디.
- Because Korean does not have a native 'z' sound, 지 is a close approximation that actually represents a 'j' sound to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- 제브라Zebra
- 조이Zoe
- 제로Zero
- 피자Pizza
- 영어 알파벳 마지막 글자는 지예요.yeong-eo alpabet majimak geuljaneun ji-ye-yo.The last letter of the English alphabet is z.
- 이 단어는 지로 시작해요.i daneoneun ji-ro sijak-haeyo.This word starts with z.
- 지 발음이 생각보다 어려워요.ji bareumi saeng-gak-boda eoryeowoyo.The pronunciation of z is harder than I thought.
Example conversation
A student asks a teacher about English spelling.
- 도현 Do-hyeon선생님, 영어 스펠링 하나만 물어볼게요.seonsaengnim, yeong-eo seupeilling hana-man mureobolgeyo.Teacher, let me ask you one English spelling question.
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 말씀하세요.ne, malsseum-haseyo.Yes, please tell me.
- 도현 Do-hyeon마지막 글자가 지 맞나요?majimak geuljaga ji mannayo?Is the last letter z?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 지가 맞아요.ne, ji-ga majayo.Yes, it is z.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 지, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 지, CC BY-SA 4.0.
