In some inscriptions, "z" represented a Vulgar Latin sound, likely an affricate, formed by the merging of the reflexes of Classical Latin , and : for example, ' for ' "January", ' for ' "deacon", and ' for ' "today". Likewise, sometimes replaced in words like ' for ' "to baptize". In modern Italian, "z" represents or , whereas the reflexes of ' and ' are written with the letter "g" (representing when before "i" and "e"): ', '. In other languages, such as Spanish, further evolution of the sound occurred.