Yep. Pretty sure its a short 'a'
@Zep can probably put me right
C
Here we go - simples!
[mɑzeˈɾati] “mah-ze-RAH-tee” // “mah-ze-DAH-tee”
The AH is open much like it’s pronounced in most languages. English speakers don’t typically do this, but don’t say “Maz” as in “Has”.
The S is voiced (like an English Z) since it falls between vowel sounds.
The Italian E here is closed (like Spanish) and is best pronounced by saying a short, punched /eI/ (as in ‘SAY’) sound through the shape of an /i/ (as in “Me”) sound. Somewhere between “Zay” and “Zeh”. It should NOT sound like mah-”zuh” or mah-”zer” like it does in English.
The R is flipped and resembles a ‘flap T’ (or D) in most non-UK English dialects — words like ‘Bottom’ or ‘City’ (and in varieties where liter = leader). A native English speaker might even benefit from this phonetic spelling: “mah-ze-DA-tee” , if said really quickly. Many languages of the world already use this pronunciation of R (Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Greek, etc.) so it may be identical to yours.
The T is a soft, unaspirated, Latin T that shouldn’t sound as breathy as the initial T in the English “Tee”. You should slide your tongue forward and use the blade, just past the tip to make contact and control the amount of air that comes out. You may even see the tip of your tongue sticking out in a mirror. Native English speakers may also consider the T in words like “Stop” or “Act” which come out a little softer. It’s not a double T so it should also not be ‘landed on’ for too long.
The final I is also light and quick.
mah-ze-RAH-tee // mah-ze-DAH-tee