Short Z-Words Tips: Scrabble, Words With Friends & Anagrams

The letter Z is one of the most powerful tools you can have in Scrabble, Words With Friends, and anagram games. There's only one Z tile in each set, and it's worth a massive 10 points—the highest in the game alongside Q (and J in Words With Friends). Z-words are rare in English, but the short ones are especially valuable. Learning them gives you a big edge: you’ll be ready to drop high-scoring words across bonus squares and multiply your points whenever a Z shows up. Mastering short Z-words turns rare opportunities into game-winning moves.

This guide gives you powerful Z-word lists to make learning easy and fast. It focuses on short Z-words from 2 to 5 letters, with the 5-letter words carefully picked to include only the most common ones. It’s perfect for Scrabble, Words With Friends, and even Wordle. You'll find Z-words grouped by length, by common patterns and endings, and by scoring potential. Whether you're looking to memorize quick Z-plays or spot high-scoring moves across the board, these lists are designed to sharpen your skills and help you win more games.

2-Letter Z-Words: Play ZA in Scrabble and Words With Friends

The only 2-letter Z-word officially accepted in both Scrabble and Words With Friends is ZA, a slang word for pizza. It's an essential word to know, scoring a strong 11 points even without bonus squares. Other 2-letter words with Z, like ZE and ZO, exist but are only accepted in international Scrabble (Collins dictionary), not in the standard North American Scrabble or WWF dictionaries.

Word	Definition & Example	NWL Score	CSW Score	WWF Score
ZA	Slang for pizza Example: "Let's grab some za!"	11	11	11
ZE	Gender-neutral pronoun Example: "Ze (she or he) laughed at the joke."	N/A	11	N/A
ZO	Tibetan yak Example: "The zo carried heavy loads."	N/A	11	N/A

📄 Download the list of all 2-letter Z-words playable in Scrabble and Words with Friends

3-Letter Z-Words: Slang, Regional Terms, and Scores

The 3-letter Z-words in Scrabble and Words With Friends typically score between 10 and 19 points, assuming no bonus tiles are used. For example, ZZZ can only score 10 points (without any bonus) since it requires two blank tiles, and, according to Scrabble and Words with Friends rules, blank tiles carry 0 points. Not all of these words are accepted across all Words with Friends and Scrabble dictionaries; International Scrabble (Collins dictionary) includes many of them, as some are slang or regional terms.

Below is a list of 3-letter Z-words playable in Scrabble and Words With Friends, along with their respective scores when no bonus tiles are involved:

Word	Definition & Example	NWL Score	CSW Score	WWF Score
ADZ	tool for shaping wood Example: 'He used an adz to carve the beam.'	13	13	13
AZO	type of chemical compound Example: 'Azo dyes color fabrics brightly.'	12	12	12
BEZ	dialect word for a horse's collar Example: 'The farmer fixed the bez.'	N/A	14	N/A
BIZ	slang for business Example: 'Show biz is tough!'	14	14	15
CAZ	informal, Australian slang for casual Example: 'He wore a caz outfit.'	N/A	14	N/A
COZ	old word for cousin Example: 'My coz is visiting today.'	14	14	15
CUZ	slang for because or cousin Example: 'I'm late cuz of traffic.'	14	14	N/A
DZO	yak-cattle hybrid Example: 'The dzo is strong and hardy.'	N/A	13	13
FEZ	red, flat-topped hat Example: 'He wore a fez to the party.'	15	15	15
FIZ	hiss sound, like soda fizz Example: 'The soda made a loud fiz.'	15	15	15
JIZ	slang for semen (vulgar) Example: 'The movie was full of jiz jokes.'	N/A	19	N/A
LUZ	Spanish for light; rare in English Example: 'Luz shone in the dark.'	N/A	12	N/A
MIZ	short for Ms. Example: 'Miz Parker is the teacher.'	N/A	14	N/A
MOZ	Australian slang for luck (mozzed = jinxed) Example: 'Don't moz the game!'	N/A	14	N/A
POZ	slang for HIV positive Example: 'He's poz but healthy.'	N/A	14	N/A
REZ	slang for reservation (Native land) Example: 'She grew up on the rez.'	12	12	N/A
RIZ	slang for charisma (game) Example: 'He's got mad riz.'	N/A	12	N/A
SAZ	Middle Eastern string instrument Example: 'He strummed the saz.'	N/A	12	12
SEZ	dialect spelling of says. Example: 'He sez he’s coming.'	12	12	12
SOZ	British slang for sorry Example: 'Soz about that!'	N/A	N/A	12
TIZ	slang for a tizzy (panic) Example: 'She’s in a real tiz.'	12	N/A	12
WAZ	slang for urine (vulgar); also was in dialect Example: 'Took a quick waz.'	N/A	N/A	15
WIZ	a genius at something Example: 'He's a math wiz.'	15	15	15
WUZ	dialect spelling of was. Example: 'I wuz there first.'	15	N/A	16
YEZ	informal yes in dialect Example: 'Yez, I’ll join you!'	15	N/A	14
ZAG	sharp turn opposite a zig Example: 'First you zig, then you zag.'	13	13	14
ZAP	sudden hit or jolt Example: 'The bug zapper went zap!'	14	14	15
ZAS	plural of ZA (pizzas) Example: 'We ordered three zas.'	12	12	12
ZAX	tool for cutting roofing slate Example: 'The worker used a zax.'	19	19	19
ZEA	a type of maize plant Example: 'Zea grows in warm fields.'	N/A	12	N/A
ZED	British name for letter Z. Example: 'They say zed, not zee.'	13	13	13
ZEE	American name for letter Z. Example: 'He sang from A to zee.'	12	12	12
ZEK	Soviet prison laborer Example: 'The zek toiled in harsh camps.'	16	16	16
ZEL	Jewish term for zeal or passion Example: 'He prayed with zel.'	N/A	12	N/A
ZEN	calm and meditation practice Example: 'She has a zen vibe.'	12	12	13
ZEP	large sandwich (hoagie) Example: 'I had a huge zep for lunch.'	14	14	N/A
ZEX	rare word meaning sexy. Example: 'That outfit is pure zex.'	N/A	19	N/A
ZHO	Tibetan hybrid of yak and cow (male) Example: 'The zho grazed nearby.'	N/A	15	14
ZIG	sharp sudden turn Example: 'He zigged and zagged fast.'	13	13	14
ZIN	short for zinfandel wine Example: 'Pour me some zin!'	12	12	13
ZIP	fast movement; energy Example: 'He zipped through traffic.'	14	14	15
ZIT	pimple Example: 'I got a zit before the party!'	12	12	12
ZIZ	legendary giant bird in Jewish lore Example: 'The ziz blocks the sun!'	N/A	21	N/A
ZOA	plural of zoon (animal) Example: 'Microscopic zoa filled the pond.'	12	12	12
ZOL	South African slang for a marijuana cigarette Example: 'He rolled a zol.'	N/A	12	13
ZOO	place where animals live for viewing Example: 'We went to the zoo!'	12	12	12
ZOS	plural of zo (Tibetan cattle) Example: 'Several zos crossed the field.'	N/A	12	N/A
ZUZ	ancient Hebrew silver coin Example: 'The merchant accepted a zuz.'	11	11	N/A
ZZZ	sound of sleeping Example: 'He’s catching some zzz.'	10	10	N/A

📄 Download the list of all 3-letter Z-words playable in Scrabble and Words with Friends

4-Letter Z-Words: From QUIZ (22 points) to ZIZZ (11 points)

There are almost 150 4-letter words containing the letter Z, but not all of them are playable in every dictionary. While International Scrabble (Collins) accepts many of them, some are slang or foreign terms, limiting their acceptance in the NASPA word list or Words with Friends dictionary. The scores for these words can range from 22 for QUIZ (the only Q word with 2-5 letter Zs) to 11. The lowest-scoring words are those with two or three Zs, as these are composed of blank tiles, which, according to Scrabble rules, score zero points. There are 19 words containing "ZZ," particularly those ending in "ZZ." Two words have three Zs: ZIZZ and ZZZS. Of course, these could only be played if you manage to draw the only Z tile and the two blank tiles, which is a rare occurrence in most games.

Word	Definition & Example	NWL Score	CSW Score	WWF Score
ADZE	wood-shaping tool like an axe Example: 'The carpenter swung his adze.'	14	14	14
AZAN	Muslim call to prayer Example: 'The azan echoed at dawn.'	13	13	14
AZON	early guided bomb Example: 'The azon changed air warfare.'	13	13	N/A
AZYM	unleavened bread Example: 'They ate azym during the festival.'	N/A	18	N/A
BAZZ	rare slang for buzz Example: 'A bazz filled the air.'	14	N/A	N/A
BIZE	rare word for a cold wind Example: 'A sharp bize blew.'	15	15	16
BOZO	slang for a fool Example: 'Don’t act like a bozo!'	15	15	16
BUZZ	humming sound or excitement Example: 'There’s a buzz in the room.'	14	14	16
CAZH	slang for casual Example: 'He’s got a cazh style.'	18	N/A	N/A
CHEZ	French for at the place of. Example: 'Dinner chez Paul tonight.'	18	18	18
CHIZ	British slang for cheat or trick Example: 'It was all a chiz!'	N/A	18	N/A
COZE	cozy chat Example: 'They had a warm coze.'	N/A	15	N/A
COZY	comfortable, snug Example: 'The cabin was cozy.'	18	18	18
CZAR	powerful ruler or leader Example: 'The czar demanded loyalty.'	15	15	16
DAZE	stunned confusion Example: 'He wandered in a daze.'	14	14	14
DITZ	scatterbrained person Example: 'She’s a lovable ditz.'	14	14	14
DOZE	light sleep Example: 'He dozed off during the film.'	14	14	14
DOZY	sleepy or dull Example: 'I feel so dozy today.'	17	17	16
DZHO	yak-cow hybrid Example: 'The dzho climbed the hills.'	N/A	17	16
DZOS	plural of dzho Example: 'The dzos grazed together.'	N/A	14	14
FAZE	disturb or worry Example: 'Nothing fazes her.'	16	16	16
FIZZ	bubbly sound or energy Example: 'The soda had a nice fizz.'	15	15	15
FOZY	rare word meaning spongy or soft Example: 'The bread was fozy.'	19	19	18
FRIZ	to frizz or curl hair Example: 'She frizzed her bangs.'	16	16	16
FUTZ	waste time, mess around Example: 'Stop futzing and focus!'	16	16	17
FUZE	alternative spelling of fuse Example: 'The bomb’s fuze was lit.'	16	16	17
FUZZ	light hair or soft sound Example: 'The peach had fuzz.'	15	15	16
GAZE	steady look Example: 'She gazed at the stars.'	14	14	15ƒ
GAZY	staring or dreamy Example: 'He had a gazy look.'	N/A	17	N/A
GEEZ	mild exclamation Example: 'Geez, calm down!'	14	14	15
GIZZ	slang for gizzard (bird organ) Example: 'The gizz is edible.'	N/A	13	N/A
GRIZ	slang for grizzly bear Example: 'We spotted a griz nearby.'	14	N/A	N/A
HAZE	slight mist or confusion Example: 'A haze covered the field.'	16	16	15
HAZY	unclear or misty Example: 'Details are a bit hazy.'	19	19	17
HIZZ	rare slang for hiss Example: 'The snake gave a hizz.'	N/A	15	N/A
IZAR	long Muslim robe Example: 'He wore a white izar.'	13	13	13
JAZY	rare slang for jazzy, lively Example: 'The song was jazy.'	N/A	23	N/A
JAZZ	lively music style Example: 'I love jazz nights.'	19	19	21
JEEZ	mild shock or surprise Example: 'Jeez, that’s loud!'	20	20	22
JIZZ	vulgar slang for semen Example: 'The joke was full of jizz humor.'	19	19	21
KAZI	Islamic judge Example: 'The kazi settled disputes.'	N/A	17	N/A
KUZU	Japanese starch plant Example: 'Kuzu roots are edible.'	N/A	17	N/A
LAZE	relax or lounge Example: 'They lazed by the pool.'	13	13	14
LAZO	lasso; rope for cattle Example: 'He swung the lazo skillfully.'	N/A	13	N/A
LAZY	unwilling to work Example: 'I’m feeling lazy today.'	16	16	16
LOLZ	laughs, online slang Example: 'So many lolz!'	N/A	N/A	15
LULZ	laughs, often at someone’s expense Example: 'Did it for the lulz.'	N/A	N/A	16
LUTZ	skating jump with a twist Example: 'She nailed the lutz!'	13	13	15
MAZE	complex network of paths Example: 'They got lost in the maze.'	15	15	16
MAZY	winding or twisty Example: 'The mazy road confused us.'	18	18	18
MEZE	Middle Eastern small dishes Example: 'We had a meze feast.'	15	15	16
MEZZ	short for mezzo (musical range) Example: 'She's a mezzo singer.'	N/A	14	N/A
MIZZ	slang for Ms Example: 'Mizz Jackson is my boss.'	N/A	14	N/A
MOZE	rare variant of mosey (walk slowly) Example: 'We mozed along.'	N/A	15	N/A
MOZO	male servant or worker Example: 'The mozo carried the bags.'	15	15	16
MOZZ	Australian slang for jinx Example: 'Don’t mozz the game!'	N/A	14	N/A
MUZZ	blur or confusion Example: 'The muzz of sleep lingered.'	N/A	14	16
MZEE	Swahili for elder Example: 'The mzee shared wisdom.'	N/A	15	16
NAZE	headland or promontory Example: 'They sailed past the naze.'	N/A	13	N/A
NAZI	member of Hitler's party Example: 'He studied WWII Nazi history.'	13	13	N/A
OOZE	slowly seep out Example: 'The syrup oozed out.'	13	13	13
OOZY	sticky or muddy Example: 'The trail was oozy.'	16	16	15
ORZO	small rice-shaped pasta Example: 'I love orzo salad!'	13	13	13
OUZO	Greek anise-flavored liquor Example: 'A glass of ouzo, please.'	13	13	14
OYEZ	call for attention in court Example: 'The herald cried Oyez!'	16	16	15
PHIZ	slang for face Example: 'He had a cheerful phiz.'	18	18	18
PIZE	dialect for prize Example: 'He won the grand pize.'	N/A	15	N/A
POZZ	slang for HIV positive Example: 'He's been poz for years.'	N/A	14	N/A
PREZ	slang for president Example: 'The prez gave a speech.'	15	15	16
PUTZ	fool or jerk (Yiddish slang) Example: 'Don't be a putz!'	15	15	17
QUIZ	short test Example: 'We have a quiz tomorrow.'	22	22	23
RAZE	destroy completely Example: 'They razed the building.'	13	13	13
RAZZ	tease playfully Example: 'They razzed him all day.'	12	12	12
RITZ	luxury, glamour Example: 'The party was pure ritz.'	13	13	13
RIZA	religious metal cover for icons Example: 'The riza gleamed in the light.'	N/A	13	N/A
SITZ	sitz bath for healing Example: 'He took a sitz bath for relief.'	N/A	13	13
SIZE	how big something is Example: 'What size shoes?'	13	13	13
SIZY	rare word for thick or sticky Example: 'The sauce was sizy.'	16	16	15
SPAZ	clumsy or hyperactive person (dated slang) Example: 'He spazzed out!'	15	15	16
SWIZ	British slang for swindle Example: 'That was a total swiz.'	N/A	16	16
TIZZ	short for tizzy (panic) Example: 'She’s in a real tizz.'	12	12	12
TOZE	rare dialect for tease or tickle Example: 'He tozed the cat.'	N/A	13	N/A
TREZ	French slang for very. Example: 'It’s trez cool!'	N/A	13	N/A
TUZZ	rare word meaning confusion Example: 'The crowd was in a tuzz.'	N/A	12	N/A
TZAR	variant of czar (ruler) Example: 'The tzar ruled for decades.'	13	13	13
VIZY	looking lively (rare) Example: 'His vizy mood cheered us.'	N/A	19	N/A
WAZZ	dialect spelling of was Example: 'She wazz late again.'	N/A	N/A	15
WHIZ	expert or fast mover Example: 'He’s a tech whiz.'	19	19	18
YUTZ	foolish person (Yiddish slang) Example: 'You silly yutz!'	16	16	16
YUZU	Japanese citrus fruit Example: 'Yuzu adds a tart flavor.'	16	16	17
ZACK	slang for a sixpence coin (rare) Example: 'He found a zack.'	N/A	19	20
ZAGS	plural of zag (sharp turn) Example: 'Sharp zags ahead!'	14	14	15
ZANY	crazy or funny Example: 'The show was zany fun.'	16	16	16
ZAPS	hits or zaps Example: 'He zaps bugs all night.'	15	15	16
ZARF	coffee cup holder Example: 'Use a zarf—it’s hot!'	16	16	16
ZARI	gold thread embroidery Example: 'The sari had zari work.'	N/A	N/A	13
ZATI	rare; means self in Sufism Example: 'They discussed zati paths.'	N/A	13	N/A
ZEAL	great passion Example: 'She fought with zeal.'	13	13	14
ZEAS	plural of zea (maize plants) Example: 'Tall zeas lined the field.'	N/A	13	N/A
ZEBU	hump-backed cattle breed Example: 'The zebu roamed the farm.'	15	15	17
ZEDA	variant of zed (letter Z) Example: 'Say zeda like a Brit.'	14	N/A	N/A
ZEDS	plural of zed Example: 'Many zeds in British ABCs.'	14	14	14
ZEES	plural of zee Example: 'Lots of zees in American ABCs.'	13	13	13
ZEIN	corn protein Example: 'Zein coats medicines.'	13	13	14
ZEKS	Soviet labor camp prisoners Example: 'The zeks endured harsh lives.'	17	17	17
ZELS	rare variant meaning zeal or passion Example: 'Her zels drove her.'	N/A	13	N/A
ZENS	plural of zen (states of calm) Example: 'Multiple zens guide him.'	13	13	N/A
ZEPS	large sandwiches Example: 'I ordered two zeps.'	15	15	N/A
ZERK	grease fitting (mechanical) Example: 'Apply oil to the zerk.'	17	17	N/A
ZERO	nothing, none Example: 'The score was zero.'	13	13	13
ZEST	lively energy; citrus peel Example: 'Add zest to the dish.'	13	13	13
ZETA	Greek letter (Ζ, ζ) Example: 'Zeta comes after epsilon.'	13	13	13
ZEZE	African string instrument Example: 'He plucked the zeze gently.'	N/A	12	N/A
ZHOS	plural of zho (yak hybrid) Example: 'The zhos moved slowly.'	N/A	16	15
ZIFF	rare slang for beard Example: 'He stroked his ziff.'	N/A	19	19
ZIGS	sharp turns Example: 'The road zigged a lot.'	14	14	15
ZILA	district or region in South Asia Example: 'They visited the zila.'	N/A	13	N/A
ZILL	small finger cymbals Example: 'The dancer jingled her zills.'	13	13	15
ZIMB	African gadfly Example: 'The zimb buzzed annoyingly.'	N/A	17	N/A
ZINC	metallic element Example: 'Zinc protects against rust.'	15	15	17
ZINE	small-circulation magazine Example: 'She made a DIY zine.'	13	13	14
ZING	energy, vitality Example: 'Add some zing to your speech!'	14	14	16
ZINS	plural of zin (zinfandel wine) Example: 'We tasted a few zins.'	13	13	14
ZIPS	fast moves or zippers Example: 'He zips his jacket quickly.'	15	15	16
ZITE	slang for site or website Example: 'Check the zite out!'	N/A	13	N/A
ZITI	tubular pasta Example: 'I love baked ziti!'	13	13	13
ZITS	pimples Example: 'Teenagers hate zits!'	13	13	13
ZIZZ	a nap or sleep Example: 'He caught a quick zizz.'	11	11	11
ZOBO	hybrid of zebu and cow Example: 'The zobo grazed calmly.'	N/A	15	N/A
ZOBU	variant spelling of zobo Example: 'The zobu is strong.'	N/A	15	N/A
ZOEA	crab or shrimp larva Example: 'The zoea drifted in the water.'	13	13	13
ZOIC	relating to animals Example: 'The zoic era teemed with life.'	15	15	16
ZOLS	plural of zol (marijuana cigarette) Example: 'He smoked two zols.'	N/A	13	14
ZONA	anatomical zone or belt Example: 'The zona separated tissues.'	13	13	14
ZONE	area or region Example: 'Stay in your zone.'	13	13	14
ZONK	pass out or collapse Example: 'He zonked out after work.'	17	17	18
ZOOM	move quickly Example: 'Cars zoomed past us.'	15	15	16
ZOON	individual animal organism Example: 'Each zoon is unique.'	13	13	14
ZOOS	places for viewing animals Example: 'Kids love zoos.'	13	13	13
ZOOT	1940s flashy suit Example: 'He wore a zoot suit.'	N/A	13	13
ZORI	Japanese sandal Example: 'She slipped on her zori.'	13	13	13
ZOUK	Caribbean dance music Example: 'They danced to zouk beats.'	17	17	18
ZUKE	slang for zucchini Example: 'Grill some zukes!'	17	17	N/A
ZULU	South African ethnic group Example: 'The Zulu culture is rich.'	N/A	13	N/A
ZUPA	soup (in Slavic languages) Example: 'A warm zupa for dinner.'	N/A	15	N/A
ZURF	rare slang for surfing Example: 'Let’s zurf today!'	N/A	16	N/A
ZYGA	root word for yoke (joining) Example: 'Zyga structures connect parts.'	N/A	17	N/A
ZYME	old word for enzyme Example: 'Zymes speed up digestion.'	18	18	18
ZZZS	sleep sounds Example: 'He caught some ZZZs.'	N/A	11	N/A

📄 Download the list of all 4-letter Z-words playable in Scrabble and Words with Friends

5-Letter Z-Words: Great for Scrabble, WWF, and Wordle

If you want to improve your word game performance, these five-letter Z-words should be at the top of your list. These words are accepted in all Scrabble and WWF dictionaries and are worth memorizing for other anagram-solving games or Wordle. Just be mindful that in Wordle, regular past-tense verbs like SIZED or DAZED and plurals such as ZEROS are not winning options. Instead, focus on words with unique letters like Y and those ending in -ZY, which are highly valuable across all word games and easy to memorize. Think JAZZY, WOOZY, BOOZY, and CRAZY. Their Scrabble scores typically range from 14 to 23, with the highest scorers usually involving the letter Y.

Word	Definition & Example	NWL Score	CSW Score	WWF Score
JAZZY	lively or stylish Example: 'The decor was jazzy.'	23	23	24
WOOZY	feeling dizzy or faint Example: 'I felt woozy after the spin.'	20	20	19
BOOZY	full of alcohol or tipsy Example: 'It was a boozy party.'	19	19	19
CRAZY	wild or insane Example: 'That idea’s crazy!'	19	19	19
FIZZY	bubbly and sparkling Example: 'I love fizzy drinks.'	19	19	18
FUZZY	soft or blurry Example: 'The sweater’s so fuzzy.'	19	19	19
DIZZY	feeling like you might fall Example: 'The ride made me dizzy.'	17	17	16
FRITZ	slang for broken Example: 'The TV’s on the fritz.'	17	17	17
FROZE	turned to ice or stopped Example: 'The lake froze overnight.'	17	17	17
HAZEL	brownish-green color Example: 'She had hazel eyes.'	17	17	17
HERTZ	unit of frequency Example: 'The signal was 60 hertz.'	17	17	16
WALTZ	graceful ballroom dance Example: 'They danced a waltz.'	17	17	18
ZESTY	full of flavor or energy Example: 'The salsa was zesty!'	17	17	16
AMAZE	fill with wonder Example: 'The trick amazed everyone.'	16	16	17
BEZEL	ring around a watch face Example: 'The watch’s bezel gleamed.'	16	16	18
BLAZE	big, bright fire Example: 'The campfire blazed high.'	16	16	18
BLITZ	fast, intense attack Example: 'They launched a media blitz.'	16	16	18
BOOZE	slang for alcohol Example: 'He brought the booze.'	16	16	17
CRAZE	wild, short-lived trend Example: 'Fidget spinners were a craze.'	16	16	17
DAZED	stunned and confused Example: 'She looked dazed after the news.'	16	16	16
MAIZE	another word for corn Example: 'Fields of maize swayed.'	16	16	17
PLAZA	open public square Example: 'Meet me at the plaza.'	16	16	18
PRIZE	reward for winning Example: 'She won first prize.'	16	16	17
TOPAZ	golden-yellow gem Example: 'She wore a topaz ring.'	16	16	17
UNZIP	open a zipper Example: 'He unzipped his coat.'	16	16	19
ZEBRA	striped African animal Example: 'The zebra trotted by.'	16	16	17
DOZEN	twelve of something Example: 'A dozen eggs, please.'	15	15	16
GAUZE	thin medical fabric Example: 'Wrap it with gauze.'	15	15	17
GAZER	someone who looks steadily Example: 'The star gazer marveled.'	15	15	16
GLAZE	shiny coating Example: 'The cake had a sweet glaze.'	15	15	17
GRAZE	scrape lightly or feed on grass Example: 'The deer grazed quietly.'	15	15	16
PIZZA	flatbread with toppings Example: 'Pizza night is the best!'	15	15	16
SIZED	measured for size Example: 'The boots were sized wrong.'	15	15	15
ZONED	divided into areas Example: 'The city is zoned for housing.'	15	15	16
AZURE	bright blue color Example: 'The sky was pure azure.'	14	14	15
OZONE	gas layer protecting Earth Example: 'The ozone absorbs UV rays.'	14	14	15
RAZOR	blade for shaving Example: 'Grab a new razor.'	14	14	14
SEIZE	grab suddenly Example: 'Seize the moment!'	14	14	14
SIZES	different measurements Example: 'Shoes come in all sizes.'	14	14	14
ZEROS	more than one zero Example: 'Add two more zeros.'	14	14	14
ZONAL	relating to zones Example: 'The zonal map showed divisions.'	14	14	16
ZONES	areas or regions Example: 'Stay within the zones.'	14	14	15

📄 Download the list of common 5-letter Z-words playable in Scrabble and Words with Friends

ZA, ZE, ZO, and How to Build on Them

ZA, ZE, and ZO are the only playable two-letter words starting with Z!
It's good to know that ZA is playable in all games (Scrabble, Words With Friends, etc.), while ZE and ZO are accepted only in Collins Scrabble (International rules).
When it comes to 3- to 5-letter words starting or ending with these patterns, ZE proves the most flexible: 27 words start with ZE, and 31 end with it. ZA begins 11 words and ends just 3, but they’re memorable classics like RIZA, PIZZA, and PLAZA. ZO starts 21 words and ends 7 in our short-word list.
Below are the word lists featuring ZA, ZE, and ZO starting and ending words you should learn.

Short Words That Begin and End with ZA

Words Starting with ZA					Words Ending with ZA
Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF	Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
ZAG	3	✅	✅	✅	RIZA	4	❌	✅	❌
ZAP	3	✅	✅	✅	PIZZA	5	✅	✅	✅
ZAS	3	✅	✅	✅	PLAZA	5	✅	✅	✅
ZAX	3	✅	✅	✅
ZACK	4	❌	✅	✅
ZAGS	4	✅	✅	✅
ZANY	4	✅	✅	✅
ZAPS	4	✅	✅	✅
ZARF	4	✅	✅	✅
ZARI	4	❌	❌	✅
ZATI	4	❌	✅	❌

📄 Download the list of all short playable words that begin and end with ZA

Short Words That Begin and End with ZE

Words Starting with ZE					Words Ending with ZE
Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF	Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
ZEA	3	❌	✅	❌	ADZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZED	3	✅	✅	✅	BIZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEE	3	✅	✅	✅	COZE	4	❌	✅	❌
ZEK	3	✅	✅	✅	DAZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEL	3	❌	✅	❌	DOZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEN	3	✅	✅	✅	FAZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEP	3	✅	✅	❌	FUZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEX	3	❌	✅	❌	GAZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEAL	4	✅	✅	✅	HAZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEAS	4	❌	✅	❌	LAZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEBU	4	✅	✅	✅	MAZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEDA	4	✅	❌	❌	MEZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEDS	4	✅	✅	✅	MOZE	4	❌	✅	❌
ZEES	4	✅	✅	✅	NAZE	4	❌	✅	❌
ZEIN	4	✅	✅	✅	OOZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEKS	4	✅	✅	✅	PIZE	4	❌	✅	❌
ZELS	4	❌	✅	❌	RAZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZENS	4	✅	✅	❌	SIZE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZEPS	4	✅	✅	❌	TOZE	4	❌	✅	❌
ZERK	4	✅	✅	❌	ZEZE	4	❌	✅	❌
ZERO	4	✅	✅	✅	AMAZE	5	✅	✅	✅
ZEST	4	✅	✅	✅	BLAZE	5	✅	✅	✅
ZETA	4	✅	✅	✅	BOOZE	5	✅	✅	✅
ZEZE	4	❌	✅	❌	CRAZE	5	✅	✅	✅
ZEBRA	5	✅	✅	✅	FROZE	5	✅	✅	✅
ZEROS	5	✅	✅	✅	GAUZE	5	✅	✅	✅
ZESTY	5	✅	✅	✅	GLAZE	5	✅	✅	✅
					GRAZE	5	✅	✅	✅
					MAIZE	5	✅	✅	✅
					PRIZE	5	✅	✅	✅
					SEIZE	5	✅	✅	✅

📄 Download the list of all short playable words that begin and end with ZE

Short Words That Begin and End with ZO

Words Starting with ZO					Words Ending with ZO
Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF	Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
ZOA	3	✅	✅	✅	AZO	3	✅	✅	✅
ZOL	3	❌	✅	✅	DZO	3	❌	✅	✅
ZOO	3	✅	✅	✅	BOZO	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOS	3	❌	✅	❌	LAZO	4	❌	✅	❌
ZOBO	4	❌	✅	❌	MOZO	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOBU	4	❌	✅	❌	ORZO	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOEA	4	✅	✅	✅	OUZO	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOIC	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOLS	4	❌	✅	✅
ZONA	4	✅	✅	✅
ZONE	4	✅	✅	✅
ZONK	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOOM	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOON	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOOS	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOOT	4	❌	✅	✅
ZORI	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOUK	4	✅	✅	✅
ZONAL	5	✅	✅	✅
ZONED	5	✅	✅	✅
ZONES	5	✅	✅	✅

📄 Download the list of all short playable words that begin and end with ZO

Mastering ZZ Words: Turn Blanks into Big Wins

Words with double or triple Zs (2–5 letters long) are rare but powerful tools if you know how to use them. Since Scrabble and Words With Friends only provide one Z tile per game, playing a word with multiple Zs requires using blank tiles (there are only two blanks per game). Because blanks carry no point value, these ZZ words won't score dramatically higher. However, blank tiles still unlock amazing opportunities: for example, adding a blank Z to an existing FIZ to create FIZZ can easily score 15 points or more! Plus, ZZ is a surprisingly common ending in English. Think JAZZ, BUZZ, or FUZZ. Knowing these words helps you capitalize on bonus moves others might miss.

Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
ZZZ	3	✅	✅	❌
BAZZ	4	✅	❌	❌
BUZZ	4	✅	✅	✅
FIZZ	4	✅	✅	✅
FUZZ	4	✅	✅	✅
GIZZ	4	❌	✅	❌
HIZZ	4	❌	✅	❌
JAZZ	4	✅	✅	✅
JIZZ	4	✅	✅	✅
MEZZ	4	❌	✅	❌
MIZZ	4	❌	✅	❌
MOZZ	4	❌	✅	❌
MUZZ	4	❌	✅	✅
POZZ	4	❌	✅	❌
RAZZ	4	✅	✅	✅
TIZZ	4	✅	✅	✅
TUZZ	4	❌	✅	❌
WAZZ	4	❌	❌	✅
ZIZZ	4	✅	✅	✅
ZZZS	4	❌	✅	❌
DIZZY	5	✅	✅	✅
FIZZY	5	✅	✅	✅
FUZZY	5	✅	✅	✅
JAZZY	5	✅	✅	✅
PIZZA	5	✅	✅	✅

📄 Download the list of short playable words with double Z

Z + OO = A Quick Win: 10 Words Worth Memorizing

Z-words that include OO form a small but mighty club. With only ten entries, they’re easy to remember thanks to their familiar sounds and frequent use. All are playable in both Scrabble and Words With Friends, except for ZOOT, which is valid only in the international Scrabble lexicon (CSW). These words aren’t just fun—they’re smart scoring opportunities. OOZY, BOOZY, and WOOZY don’t just rhyme; they score high thanks to the high-value Y at the end. Whether you're playing casually or competitively, this is a great mini-list to memorize.

Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
ZOO	3	✅	✅	✅
OOZE	4	✅	✅	✅
OOZY	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOOM	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOON	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOOS	4	✅	✅	✅
ZOOT	4	❌	✅	✅
BOOZE	5	✅	✅	✅
BOOZY	5	✅	✅	✅
WOOZY	5	✅	✅	✅

📄 Download the list of short playable words with Z and OO

The Power of ZY Rhymes

Short words ending in -ZY offer a high-impact combo of familiarity, rhyme, and point potential. There are just 18 of them, and most are playable across all dictinoaries. The only exceptions are GAZY, JAZY, and VIZY, which are valid only in the international Collins lexicon. What makes this list stand out is its blend of everyday vocabulary ( LAZY, CRAZY, FUZZY) and consistently strong scores, thanks to the high-value Y ending. Because they rhyme and stick in your memory, this is one of the easiest high-scoring word groups to master.

Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
COZY	4	✅	✅	✅
DOZY	4	✅	✅	✅
FOZY	4	✅	✅	✅
GAZY	4	❌	✅	❌
HAZY	4	✅	✅	✅
JAZY	4	❌	✅	❌
LAZY	4	✅	✅	✅
MAZY	4	✅	✅	✅
OOZY	4	✅	✅	✅
SIZY	4	✅	✅	✅
VIZY	4	❌	✅	❌
BOOZY	5	✅	✅	✅
CRAZY	5	✅	✅	✅
DIZZY	5	✅	✅	✅
FIZZY	5	✅	✅	✅
FUZZY	5	✅	✅	✅
JAZZY	5	✅	✅	✅
WOOZY	5	✅	✅	✅

📄 Download the list of short playable words ending in -ZY

Small Rhyming Words That End in -IZ, -EZ, -TZ

The list of 3- to 5-letter words ending in -IZ, -EZ, and -TZ is worth learning since it's short and easy to memorize. Each group has fewer than 15 entries, and most are familiar words, accepted in both Words With Friends and Scrabble dictionaries.

-IZ Ending Words

Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
BIZ	3	✅	✅	✅
FIZ	3	✅	✅	✅
JIZ	3	❌	✅	❌
MIZ	3	❌	✅	❌
RIZ	3	❌	✅	❌
TIZ	3	✅	❌	✅
WIZ	3	✅	✅	✅
ZIZ	3	❌	✅	❌
CHIZ	4	❌	✅	❌
FRIZ	4	✅	✅	✅
GRIZ	4	✅	❌	❌
PHIZ	4	✅	✅	✅
QUIZ	4	✅	✅	✅
SWIZ	4	❌	✅	✅
WHIZ	4	✅	✅	✅

📄 Download the list of short playable words ending in -IZ

-EZ Ending Words

Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
BEZ	3	❌	✅	❌
FEZ	3	✅	✅	✅
REZ	3	✅	✅	❌
SEZ	3	✅	✅	✅
YEZ	3	✅	❌	✅
CHEZ	4	✅	✅	✅
GEEZ	4	✅	✅	✅
JEEZ	4	✅	✅	✅
OYEZ	4	✅	✅	✅
PREZ	4	✅	✅	✅
TREZ	4	❌	✅	❌

📄 Download the list of short playable words ending in -EZ

-TZ Ending Words

Word	Length	NWL	CSW	WWF
DITZ	4	✅	✅	✅
FUTZ	4	✅	✅	✅
LUTZ	4	✅	✅	✅
PUTZ	4	✅	✅	✅
RITZ	4	✅	✅	✅
SITZ	4	❌	✅	✅
YUTZ	4	✅	✅	✅
BLITZ	5	✅	✅	✅
FRITZ	5	✅	✅	✅
HERTZ	5	✅	✅	✅
WALTZ	5	✅	✅	✅

📄 Download the list of short playable words ending in -TZ

The High-Scoring Hall of Fame: Top Z-Words

Some Z-words aren’t just fun, they’re high scorers. Among 2- to 5-letter words, JAZZY, QUIZ, and WOOZY top the charts with 20+ points before any bonuses. QUIZ is particularly special: it’s the only short Z-word that also includes a Q, making it a rare and powerful combo.

Word	NWL	CSW	WWF
JAZZY	23	23	24
QUIZ	22	22	23
WOOZY	20	20	19
FOZY	19	19	18
HAZY	19	19	17
BOOZY	19	19	19
CRAZY	19	19	19
FIZZY	19	19	18
FUZZY	19	19	19
COZY	18	18	18
MAZY	18	18	18
ZYME	18	18	18
DOZY	17	17	16
DIZZY	17	17	16
ZESTY	17	17	16
LAZY	16	16	16
OOZY	16	16	15
OYEZ	16	16	15
SIZY	16	16	15
YUTZ	16	16	16
YUZU	16	16	17
ZANY	16	16	16
YEZ	15	N/A	14
AZYM	N/A	18	N/A
GAZY	N/A	17	N/A
JAZY	N/A	23	N/A
VIZY	N/A	19	N/A
ZYGA	N/A	17	N/A

📄 Download the list of short, playable, high-scoring Z-words

Short Z-words might be small, but they can make a big difference in your game. Along with tricky Q-words and powerful X-words, they help you score more points, fit words into tight spots, make the most of bonus squares, and even block your opponent from landing a big move.

Learning these high-impact letters is a great place to start if you want to play smarter and win more often!

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