-z-

Appendix: Variations of "z" Albanian Interfix sq interfix a consonant that sometimes appears as a ligature between the elements of a compound word sq dorëzoj = sq dorë + sq -z- + sq -oj Derived terms sq Portuguese Etymology pt interfix interfix 1 Pronunciation pt /z/ Interfix pt interfix used when an entire word, rather than the word's stem, is connected to a suffix that begins with a vowel pt jacaré -z- -inho jacarezinho pt coração -z- -inho coraçãozinho pt dendê -z- -eiro dendezeiro Usage notes Situations where the whole word, rather than the stem, is suffixed include: words ending in a stressed vowel: pt jacaré → pt jacarezinho; pt só → pt sozinho; pt baú → pt bauzinho words ending in a nasal vowel or diphthong: pt coração → pt coraçãozinho; pt mãe → pt mãezona; pt romã → pt romãzeira; pt um → pt unzão. However, these are often handled differently: especially in more formal words, and especially those containing the suffix pt -ção, the interfix pt -n- is used instead, and an etymological stem is used: pt canção → pt cancioneiro, pt mão → pt manusca especially in words inherited from Old Portuguese, the word is denasalised and the etymological vowel is used: pt bênção → pt abençoar; pt capão → pt capoeira rarely, the consonant of the diphthong is lost: pt mãe → pt mãinha words ending in r or l usually take this interfix, but occasionally the suffix is attached to the word directly: pt par → pt parzinho, pt mel → pt melzinho but pt mar → pt marola, pt sal → pt saleiro words ending in a diphthong: pt pau → pt pauzinho. Sometimes an etymological stem is used: pt pau → pt palito words ending in a hiatus (usually): pt incêndio → pt incendiozinho. very rarely, words ending in an unstressed, oral vowel: pt casa → pt casazinha Derived terms pt