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How to Pronounce “zugzwang” in English

/ˈzʌɡzwæŋ/

ZUG·zwang

Stress: zug

Accent:

Hear “zugzwang” spoken naturally in real English.

Hear “zugzwang” in Real English

2 real-world video examples

Listen to how speakers use zugzwang naturally in conversations, interviews, talks, and other real-world videos. Use Previous / Next to hear more examples.

What does “zugzwang” mean?

Audio
NOUN
  • A situation in which a player is forced to make a disadvantageous move; a position where any legal move will worsen a player's situation.
  • A situation in which someone is forced to make a disadvantageous move.
VERB
  • To force (a player) into a situation where they must make a disadvantageous move.

Example sentences

  • In such a position his condition will get worse step by step until he is forced, by the necessity of making a move, to relax his hold on, or weaken, some key point, and his game collapses. A combination directed to bring about such a catastrophe is called by the Germans Zugzwang (compulsion to move), and the player who succumbs under it is said to have got into Zugzwang.
  • An explanation for this phenomenon may be that speech acts that include instructions (e.g., a command or request) show a higher level of activity than speech acts of assertion; the ethnomethodological analysis of conversation speaks of conversational Zugzwänge:²⁴ a request, a question or a command demands a reaction of the addressee.
  • Well this forces you to focus on principles like opposition, creating space, zugzwang, which is a principle of forcing your opponent to do anything that will de

Common phrases

space zugzwang

How to pronounce “zugzwang

Syllables:
zug · zwang
Stress:
zug — say this syllable louder and longer.
IPA:
/ˈzʌɡzwæŋ/
Listen for:
the stressed /zug/ in the clips above — notice how surrounding sounds blend in natural speech.

Explore native video pronunciations related to ‘zugzwang’:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce “zugzwang”?

“zugzwang” is pronounced /ˈzʌɡzwæŋ/ (zug · zwang). Listen to the native-speaker clips above to hear it in real conversation.

How many syllables are in “zugzwang”?

“zugzwang” has 2 syllables: zug · zwang.

Where is the stress in “zugzwang”?

The primary stress in “zugzwang” is on “ZUG”. Listen for that stressed syllable in the clips above.

What does “zugzwang” mean?

A situation in which a player is forced to make a disadvantageous move; a position where any legal move will worsen a player's situation.

How can I hear “zugzwang” used in real sentences?

This page has 2 real-world video examples of “zugzwang” with synchronized subtitles. Use Previous / Next (or ← / → keys) to hear each one at the exact moment it is spoken.