Words Ending in -ZEN: Frozen, Brazen, and a Few Surprises
The -ZEN ending is small but memorable. FROZEN, BRAZEN, DOZEN, and CITIZEN are the headliners — words most English speakers use regularly without thinking about the pattern they share. Then there's the deeper bench: DENIZEN (an inhabitant), COZEN (to cheat or deceive), BEDIZEN (to dress gaudily), and DIZEN (a rare variant meaning the same). Several come from Middle English or Dutch origins, and COZEN in particular has puzzled etymologists for centuries with no clear source.
In Scrabble, the Z tile is worth 10 points, and -ZEN words let you use it near the end of a play where double or triple letter squares often sit on standard boards. BRAZEN scores 17 base points, FROZEN hits 18, and CITIZEN reaches 18 as well. For crossword solvers, -ZEN answers tend to come from predictable clue types: "Ice-cold" for FROZEN, "Audacious" for BRAZEN, "Twelve" or "Baker's ___" for DOZEN.
Tip: COZEN is a crossword favorite because it's short and has unusual letter distribution — memorize it. For more Z words, look at words starting with ZE and words starting with JO for other uncommon but high-scoring plays. Players who enjoy historical vocabulary will appreciate words ending in GRY and words ending in VET.
FAQ
Is COZEN a real word and what does it mean?
COZEN means to deceive or cheat someone, and it's been in English since at least the 1500s. Its origin is genuinely unknown — possibly from Italian "cozzonare" (to deal in horses) or French "coçonner" (to resell). It appears in Shakespeare. Check words starting with ZE for more Z vocabulary.
What does BEDIZEN mean?
BEDIZEN means to dress or adorn in a showy, vulgar way. It's formed from "be-" plus DIZEN (to dress a distaff with flax). Both are valid in Scrabble and worth knowing for their unusual Z placement. For other ornate vocabulary, explore words starting with Q.
How many -ZEN words are useful for Scrabble?
About 8-10 are commonly playable: FROZEN, BRAZEN, DOZEN, CITIZEN, DENIZEN, COZEN, BEDIZEN, and DIZEN are the core group. Others like KHAZEN and CHAZZEN are rarer but valid. See words ending in IF for another compact set worth memorizing.