How to pronounce zed
Say it like ZED. Zed is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce zed. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ZED
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Zed pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ZEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of zed
American and British speakers say zed in essentially the same way: /zɛd/ in the US and /zɛd/ in the UK.
British respelling: ZED.
What does zed mean?
- The name of the Latin script letter Z/z.
- Something Z-shaped.“zed-bar”
- Sleep.“I'm going to go get some zeds.”
- To sleep or nap. (Compare zzz, catch some z's.)
- To zigzag; to move with sharp alternating turns.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- z
Words that rhyme with zed
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of zed.
Questions about saying zed
How do you pronounce zed?
Say ZED. The American pronunciation is /zɛd/. In British English it is /zɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in zed?
Zed is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ZED.
Do Americans and Brits say zed the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /zɛd/ and the British form is /zɛd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.