ザ (za)
Pronunciation
The character ザ represents the syllable 'za'. It is サ with the dakuten that voices 's' to 'z'. Less common than other 'z' katakana — most loanwords use ジ (ji), ズ (zu), or ゼ (ze) — but appears in some everyday words like pizza and design.
Stroke-by-Stroke Guide
ザ is written in five strokes. The first three strokes are identical to サ (a horizontal at top, two vertical crossings). Then add the dakuten: Stroke 4: a small diagonal mark at the upper right. Stroke 5: a second small diagonal mark below or to the right of the first. The two marks voice the syllable from 'sa' to 'za'.
Common Words with ザ
- デザイン (dezain) — design
- デザート (dezaato) — dessert
- ピザ (piza) — pizza
- マザー (mazaa) — mother (in compounds like Mother's Day)
- プラザ (puraza) — plaza
- カザフスタン (kazafusutan) — Kazakhstan
- ザワークラウト (zawaakurauto) — sauerkraut
- アザレア (azarea) — azalea
- ザイル (zairu) — climbing rope (from German "Seil")
How to Write ザ (za) in Katakana
The katakana character ザ is romanized as "za" and is written with 5 strokes. Like "za" in "pizza". Example word: ザック (zakku) — backpack.
Stroke Order for ザ
When writing ザ, follow the numbered stroke order shown in the reference character above. Japanese characters are generally written from left to right and top to bottom. Correct stroke order improves readability and writing speed.
Practice Tips
- Print this sheet on standard 8.5" × 11" letter paper
- Start by tracing the light grey guide characters in the first column
- Then practice writing ザ freehand in the empty squares
- Pay attention to stroke direction and order — follow the numbered guide
- For interactive practice with animations, visit the main study page
About Katakana
Katakana is one of the three Japanese writing systems. It consists of 46 basic characters, each representing a syllable. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords, scientific terms, and emphasis. Learning correct stroke order is essential for proper Japanese handwriting.