Sz (digraph)
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Sz is a digraph of the Latin script, used in Polish,[1] Kashubian and Hungarian, and in various romanizations of Mandarin and the Hong Kong government romanization of Cantonese.
Polish
In Polish orthography, sz represents a voiceless retroflex fricative Script error: No such module "IPA".. It usually corresponds to š or ш in other Slavic languages. It is usually approximated by English speakers with the "sh" sound[1]Template:Rp (and conversely, Polish speakers typically approximate the English digraph sh with the "sz" sound), although the two sounds are not completely identical.
Like other Polish digraphs, it is not considered a single letter for collation purposes.
sz should not be confused with ś (or s followed by i), termed "soft sh", a voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative Script error: No such module "IPA"..
Examples of sz
Template:ErrorTemplate:Category handler (area, territory)
Template:ErrorTemplate:Category handler (coat, cloak)
Template:ErrorTemplate:Category handler (Thomas)
Compare ś:
Template:ErrorTemplate:Category handler (candle)
Template:ErrorTemplate:Category handler (to go)
Template:ErrorTemplate:Category handler (August)
Kashubian
In Kashubian, sz represents a voiceless postalveolar fricative Script error: No such module "IPA"., identical to the English "sh". It corresponds to the voiceless retroflex fricative Script error: No such module "IPA". in Polish.
Examples
- These examples are Kashubian words that use the letter sz, with the English translation following.
- szãtopiérz = bat
- szczawa = sorrel
- szczãka = jaw
- szczëka = pike (fish type)
- szerszéń = hornet
Hungarian
Sz is the thirty-second letter of the Hungarian alphabet. It represents Script error: No such module "IPA". and is called "esz" Script error: No such module "IPA".. Thus, names like Liszt are pronounced Script error: No such module "IPA". list.
In Hungarian, even if two characters are put together to make a different sound, they are considered one letter (a true digraph), and even acronyms keep the letter intact.
Hungarian usage of s and sz is almost the reverse of the Polish usage. In Hungarian, s represents Script error: No such module "IPA". (a sound similar to Script error: No such module "IPA".). Therefore, the Hungarian capital of Budapest is natively pronounced (Script error: No such module "IPA".), rhyming with standard English fleshed rather than pest.
There is also a zs in Hungarian, which is the last (forty-fourth) letter of the alphabet, following z.
Examples
These examples are Hungarian words that use the letter sz, with the English translation following:
- szabó = tailor
- szép = beautiful
- szikla = rock
- szőke = blonde
- szülő = parent
- szusi = sushi
- Olaszország = Italy
- Szudán = Sudan
Standard Mandarin
Both the Yale romanization of Mandarin and Mandarin Phonetic Symbols II use the digraph Template:Angbr to represent the syllable Script error: No such module "IPA". (Template:Zh).
Cantonese
In the unpublished romanisation scheme employed by the Hong Kong government, sz is sometimes used in combination with e to represent the syllable Script error: No such module "IPA"., as in Sheung Sze Wan Script error: No such module "IPA". (Sēungsīwāan in Yale romanization).
Sz also appears in the sequence tsz, representing the syllables Script error: No such module "IPA". and Script error: No such module "IPA"., as in Tsz Tin Tsuen Script error: No such module "IPA". and Tsz Wan Shan Script error: No such module "IPA". (Jítìhnchyūn and Chìhwàhnsāan respectively in Yale romanization).
See also
References
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