<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-06-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000943894</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EZENIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EZEN.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166432</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SONKIN PAUL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>145 E. 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See footnotes</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.07</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-06-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.07</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-06-09</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-06-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Sonkin's option is immediately exercisable for 7,000 shares.  Additionally, the option is exercisable for 7,000 shares on June 9, 2012 and thereafter continues to vest in increments of 7,000 shares on an annual basis until fully vested on June 9, 2015.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Mr. Sonkin is the Managing Member of Hummingbird Capital, LLC, the general partner of Hummingbird Value Fund, L.P. and The Tarsier Nanocap Value Fund, L.P. (the &quot;Funds&quot;). Mr. Sonkin is also the Managing Member of Hummingbird Management, LLC, the investment manager to the Funds. The Funds hold a total of 1,660,993 shares of Ezenia common stock. Mr. Sonkin disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paul D. Sonkin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
