Measure Isn't Match: Italian's Missing ZH Sound

Italian gives you a confident voiced affricate, the one that starts 'giorno' or 'giallo,' but it has no equivalent for the softer, continuous buzzy sound found in the middle of English words like 'measure,' 'vision,' 'usually,' and 'casual.' Without a close native match, Italian speakers often substitute the harder affricate they already know, making 'measure' sound closer to 'mejure' with a sharper edge than intended. The real target is smoother and more continuous — no stop at the start at all, just steady friction with your voice buzzing underneath, similar to the hiss in 'sh' but voiced. Try this for two minutes: start with a long 'sh-sh-sh' sound, then switch on your voice partway through without changing your tongue position at all — that hum is the sound you want. Practice it in 'measure, pleasure, vision, decision,' going slowly. This sound is rare in English but shows up in some everyday words, so a little focused practice makes a real difference.