Words That Start With Z — Scrabble & Word Games

Z is the 23rd most common letter in English at about 0.074% — the rarest letter in standard English text. Most Z-initial English words are borrowings: ZERO (Arabic), ZOO (Greek), ZEBRA (African languages), ZUCCHINI (Italian), ZEITGEIST (German).

In Scrabble, Z is worth 10 points — tied with Q for the highest letter value — with only 1 Z tile in the bag. Z is the trophy tile of Scrabble; it is easier to place than Q because it doesn’t require a following U, so Z plays generate high scores more reliably than Q plays.

Short Z-words memorised by players: ZA, ZAS, ZEE, ZEP, ZIT, ZAX, ZOA, ZOO, ZUZ. High-scoring Z-words include PIZZA, PIZZAZZ, QUIZZED, ZEPHYR, JACUZZI. Placing Z on a triple-letter square while forming a word with another premium square is the Z player’s signature move.

Top 500 Highest-Scoring Words Starting With Z (500 of 1,170)

ZYZZYVAS44
ZYZZYVA43
ZWISCHENZUGS39
ZWISCHENZUG38
ZYGOPHYLLACEOUS38
ZIGZAGGEDNESSES37
ZANTHOXYLUMS36
ZINJANTHROPUSES36
ZINZIBERACEOUS36
ZIZYPHUSES36
ZIZZLING36
ZOOPSYCHOLOGY36
ZYGAPOPHYSEAL36
ZYGAPOPHYSIAL36
ZANTHOXYLUM35
ZIGZAGGEDNESS35
ZINCKIFICATIONS35
ZIZZING35
ZIZZLED35
ZOOPHYTOLOGICAL35
ZOOPSYCHOLOGIES35
ZUGZWANGING35
ZUZZIM35
ZYGAPOPHYSES35
ZYGAPOPHYSIS35
ZYGOBRANCHIATES35
ZYGODACTYLISMS35
ZYGOMORPHISMS35
ZIGZAGGERY34
ZINCKIFICATION34
ZINJANTHROPUS34
ZIZYPHUS34
ZIZZED34
ZIZZLES34
ZOOPHYSIOLOGY34
ZUGZWANGED34
ZYGOBRANCHIATE34
ZYGODACTYLISM34
ZYGOMORPHISM34
ZYMOTECHNICAL34
ZIGZAGGERIES33
ZINCKIFYING33
ZINCOGRAPHICAL33
ZINJANTHROPI33
ZIZZES33
ZIZZLE33
ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL33
ZOOPHYSIOLOGIES33
ZOOPHYSIOLOGIST33
ZOOPHYTOLOGISTS33
ZOOPHYTOLOGY33
ZYGODACTYLIC33
ZYGOMORPHIC33
ZYGOMORPHY33
ZYMOTECHNICS33
ZAMZAWED32
ZANTHOXYLS32
ZIGZAGGIEST32
ZIGZAGGING32
ZIGZAGGY32
ZINKIFICATIONS32
ZOMBIFICATIONS32
ZOOPHYTOLOGIES32
ZOOPHYTOLOGIST32
ZOOXANTHELLAE32
ZUGZWANGS32
ZWANZIGERS32
ZYGODACTYLOUS32
ZYGOMORPHIES32
ZYGOMORPHOUS32
ZYGOMYCETOUS32
ZYMOTECHNIC32
ZANTHOXYL31
ZIGZAGGED31
ZIGZAGGERS31
ZIGZAGGIER31
ZINCOGRAPHIC31
ZINCOGRAPHY31
ZINKIFICATION31
ZIZZ31
ZOMBIFICATION31
ZOOCHEMISTRY31
ZOOGEOGRAPHIC31
ZOOGEOGRAPHY31
ZOOXANTHELLA31
ZUGZWANG31
ZWANZIGER31
ZYGOBRANCHS31
ZYGOMYCETES31
ZYGOPHYTES31
ZZZS31
ZEUGMATICALLY30
ZIGZAGGER30
ZINCIFICATIONS30
ZINCOGRAPHERS30
ZINCOGRAPHIES30
ZINKIFYING30
ZOMBIFYING30
ZOOCHEMISTRIES30
ZOOGEOGRAPHERS30
ZOOGEOGRAPHIES30
ZOOMORPHISMS30
ZOOPATHOLOGY30
ZOOPHYTICAL30
ZOOPLANKTONIC30
ZYGOBRANCH30
ZYGODACTYLS30
ZYGOMYCETE30
ZYGOPHYTE30
ZYMOTICALLY30
ZZZ30
ZELOPHOBICS29
ZINCIFICATION29
ZINCKIFIED29
ZINCKIFY29
ZINCOGRAPHER29
ZOOCEPHALIC29
ZOOCHEMICAL29
ZOOGEOGRAPHER29
ZOOGRAPHICAL29
ZOOMORPHISM29
ZOOPATHOLOGIES29
ZWIEBACKS29
ZYGOCACTUSES29
ZYGOCARDIAC29
ZYGODACTYL29
ZYGOSPHENES29
ZYGOTICALLY29
ZALAMBDODONTS28
ZANTEDESCHIAS28
ZEBRAFISHES28
ZELOPHOBIC28
ZINCIFYING28
ZINCKIFIES28
ZINCOGRAPHS28
ZINGIBERACEOUS28
ZIPLOCKING28
ZOOMORPHIC28
ZOOMORPHY28
ZOOPHYTIC28
ZOOPHYTOID28
ZOOTECHNICAL28
ZOOTOMICALLY28
ZWIEBACK28
ZYGOSPHENE28
ZYMOLOGICAL28
ZYMOLYTIC28
ZYMOSIMETERS28
ZABAJONES27
ZALAMBDODONT27
ZAMBOORAKS27
ZAMBUCKS27
ZANTEDESCHIA27
ZARZUELAS27
ZELOPHOBIAS27
ZIGZAGS27
ZINCOGRAPH27
ZINKIFEROUS27
ZIPLOCKED27
ZIZITH27
ZOANTHROPIC27
ZOANTHROPY27
ZOMBIELIKE27
ZOOGRAPHIC27
ZOOGRAPHISTS27
ZOOGRAPHY27
ZOOLOGICALLY27
ZOOMAGNETISMS27
ZOOMORPHIES27
ZOOPHILISMS27
ZOOPLANKTERS27
ZOOPLANKTONS27
ZOOSPERMATIC27
ZOOSPORANGIUM27
ZOOTECHNICS27
ZOOTHERAPY27
ZUMBOORUKS27
ZYGOCACTUS27
ZYGOMATICS27
ZYGOSPERMS27
ZYGOSPORIC27
ZYMOSIMETER27
ZABAJONE26
ZAMBOMBAS26
ZAMBOORAK26
ZAMBUCK26
ZARZUELA26
ZEBRAFISH26
ZELATRIXES26
ZELOPHOBIA26
ZEPTOSECONDS26
ZIGZAG26
ZIKKURATS26
ZINCKENITES26
ZINKIFIED26
ZINKIFY26
ZIZANIAS26
ZOANTHROPIES26
ZOECHROMES26
ZOMBIFIED26
ZOMBIFY26
ZOMBORUKS26
ZOOGRAFTINGS26
ZOOGRAPHERS26
ZOOGRAPHIES26
ZOOGRAPHIST26
ZOOMAGNETISM26
ZOOPHAGY26
ZOOPHILISM26
ZOOPHOBIAS26
ZOOPHOBOUS26
ZOOPHYTES26
ZOOPLANKTER26
ZOOPLANKTON26
ZOOSPERMIUM26
ZOOTAXY26
ZOOTECHNY26
ZOOTHECIUM26
ZOOTHERAPIES26
ZOOTOXIC26
ZOOTROPHIC26
ZOOTROPHY26
ZUCCHETTOS26
ZUMBOORUK26
ZWITTERIONIC26
ZYGOCACTI26
ZYGOMATIC26
ZYGOPLEURAL26
ZYGOSPERM26
ZYMOGENESES26
ZYMOGENESIS26
ZYMOGENIC26
ZYMOGRAMS26
ZYMOLOGIC26
ZYMOLOGISTS26
ZYMOLOGY26
ZYMOLYSES26
ZYMOLYSIS26
ZYMOMETERS26
ZADDICKS25
ZADDIKIM25
ZAKOUSKA25
ZAKOUSKI25
ZAMBOMBA25
ZEBRAWOODS25
ZECCHINES25
ZECCHINOS25
ZEOLITIFORM25
ZEPTOSECOND25
ZESTFULNESSES25
ZHOOSHING25
ZIDOVUDINES25
ZIKKURAT25
ZINCIFEROUS25
ZINCKENITE25
ZINKIFIES25
ZIPLOCKS25
ZIZANIA25
ZOECHROME25
ZOMBIFIES25
ZOMBORUK25
ZOOCHORY25
ZOOCYTIUM25
ZOOGRAFTING25
ZOOGRAPHER25
ZOOKEEPERS25
ZOOMAGNETIC25
ZOOMORPHS25
ZOOPATHY25
ZOOPHAGANS25
ZOOPHAGIES25
ZOOPHAGOUS25
ZOOPHILIC25
ZOOPHILISTS25
ZOOPHILY25
ZOOPHOBES25
ZOOPHOBIA25
ZOOPHORIC25
ZOOPHYTE25
ZOOSPORANGIAL25
ZOOTAXIES25
ZOOTECHNIES25
ZOOTHEISTIC25
ZOOTOXINS25
ZOOTROPHIES25
ZOOZOOS25
ZUCCHETTI25
ZUCCHETTO25
ZUCCHINIS25
ZUZIM25
ZYGANTRUMS25
ZYGOSPORES25
ZYMOGRAM25
ZYMOLOGIES25
ZYMOLOGIST25
ZYMOMETER25
ZYMURGY25
ZADDICK24
ZAKUSKA24
ZAKUSKI24
ZAMBUKS24
ZAMINDARY24
ZANAMIVIRS24
ZANJEROS24
ZANZAS24
ZANZES24
ZAZENS24
ZEBECKS24
ZEBRAWOOD24
ZECCHINE24
ZECCHINI24
ZECCHINO24
ZECCHINS24
ZELATRIX24
ZELKOVAS24
ZELOTYPIAS24
ZEMINDARY24
ZEPHYRS24
ZESTFULLY24
ZETTABYTES24
ZEUXITES24
ZHOOSHED24
ZIDOVUDINE24
ZIFFIUSES24
ZINCIFIED24
ZINCIFY24
ZINCKIEST24
ZINCKING24
ZINCKY24
ZINCOLYSES24
ZINCOLYSIS24
ZIPLOCK24
ZIPPINESSES24
ZIRCALLOYS24
ZIZELS24
ZLOTYCH24
ZOANTHARIANS24
ZOMBIISMS24
ZOOCHORIES24
ZOOCHOROUS24
ZOODENDRIUM24
ZOOGONIDIUM24
ZOOKEEPER24
ZOOMANCY24
ZOOMETRICAL24
ZOOMORPH24
ZOOPATHIES24
ZOOPHAGAN24
ZOOPHILIAS24
ZOOPHILIES24
ZOOPHILIST24
ZOOPHILOUS24
ZOOPHOBE24
ZOOSCOPIC24
ZOOSCOPY24
ZOOSPORANGIA24
ZOOTHAPSES24
ZOOTHAPSIS24
ZOOTHECIAL24
ZOOTHEISMS24
ZOOTOXIN24
ZOOTYPIC24
ZOOZOO24
ZUCCHINI24
ZYGANTRUM24
ZYGOSITY24
ZYGOSPORE24
ZYMOGENES24
ZYMOTICS24
ZYMURGIES24
ZYTHUMS24
ZABAGLIONES23
ZAMBUK23
ZAMINDARIES23
ZAMPOGNAS23
ZANAMIVIR23
ZANJERO23
ZANTEWOODS23
ZANZA23
ZANZE23
ZAZEN23
ZEBECK23
ZECCHIN23
ZEITGEISTIEST23
ZEITGEISTY23
ZELKOVA23
ZELOTYPIA23
ZEMINDARIES23
ZEPHYR23
ZESTFULNESS23
ZETTABYTE23
ZEUGMATIC23
ZEUXITE23
ZEZES23
ZHOOSHES23
ZIMOCCAS23
ZINCIFIES23
ZINCKED23
ZINCKIER23
ZINFANDELS23
ZINKENITES23
ZIPPERING23
ZIPPILY23
ZIRCALLOY23
ZIRCALOYS23
ZIRCONIUMS23
ZIZEL23
ZIZIT23
ZOANTHARIAN23
ZOLPIDEMS23
ZOMBIISM23
ZOOCHORES23
ZOOLITHIC23
ZOOMANCIES23
ZOOPHILES23
ZOOPHILIA23
ZOOPHORUS23
ZOOPLASTIC23
ZOOPLASTY23
ZOOSCOPIES23
ZOOSPERMIA23
ZOOTHECIA23
ZOOTHEISM23
ZOOTHOMES23
ZOOTOMICAL23
ZUCHETTAS23
ZUCHETTOS23
ZWITTERIONS23
ZYGAENOID23
ZYGOMATA23
ZYGOSITIES23
ZYMOGENE23
ZYMOGENS23
ZYMOMES23
ZYMOTIC23
ZYTHUM23
ZABAGLIONE22
ZABTIEHS22
ZADDIKS22
ZAFFARS22
ZAFFERS22
ZAFFIRS22
ZAFFRES22
ZAITECHS22
ZAMINDARIS22
ZAMPOGNA22
ZANJAS22
ZANTEWOOD22
ZANYISH22
ZANYISMS22
ZAPATEADOS22
ZAPTIAHS22
ZAPTIEHS22
ZARNICHS22
ZEALOUSNESSES22
ZEBRINNY22
ZEITGEBERS22
ZEITGEISTIER22
ZEMINDARIS22
ZEMSTVOS22
ZEPPELINS22
ZERUMBETS22
ZEUGLODONTS22
ZEZE22
ZIFFIUS22
ZIGANKAS22
ZILLIONTHS22
ZIMOCCA22
ZINFANDEL22
ZINKENITE22
ZIPPERED22
ZIPPINESS22
ZIPWIRES22
ZIRCALOY22
ZIRCONIUM22
ZITHERISTS22
ZOETROPIC22
ZOLPIDEM22
ZOOBIOTIC22
ZOOCHORE22
ZOOCULTURES22
ZOOCYTIA22
ZOOGAMETES22
ZOOGAMY22
ZOOGRAFTS22
ZOOLOGICAL22
ZOOMANTIC22
ZOOMETRIC22
ZOOMETRY22
ZOOPHILE22
ZOOPHORI22
ZOOPLASTIES22
ZOOSPERMS22
ZOOSPORIC22
ZOOTHOME22
ZOOTYPES22
ZUCHETTA22
ZUCHETTO22
ZUFFOLI22
ZUFFOLO22

Frequently Asked Questions

How many English words start with Z?

The letter Z opens 1,170 words in this list (0.3% of the dictionary). Z is ranked 23rd in standard English letter-frequency tables and accounts for about 0.074% of written text.

What's the highest-scoring word starting with Z in Scrabble?

The top-scoring Z-word in our list is ZYZZYVAS at 44 points (TWL letter values, before any premium-square bonuses). Z itself is worth 10 points as a tile.

What's the shortest word starting with Z?

Our shortest Z-starting word is ZA (2 letters). These short entries are tactically useful: play one onto a triple-letter square and you score fast without burning through your rack.