* It is a consonant: "z" is typically classified as a consonant due to the way it is pronounced. It involves some obstruction of airflow in the mouth, which is a defining characteristic of consonants.
* Sometimes a "silent" letter: In some cases, "z" may appear in a word but be silent (not pronounced). This doesn't change its classification as a consonant.
Exceptions:
* Specific dialects or pronunciations: There might be very rare, informal, or dialect-specific cases where "z" could be pronounced in a way that sounds like a vowel, but these would not be standard usage.
Let me know if you have any other language questions!