ZA Words: 92 Entries Starting With the Highest-Scoring Two Letters
ZA as a two-letter Scrabble play needs no introduction — it's one of the two 11-point two-letter words in the game (the other being QI). But the ZA- starting pattern goes deeper than that single play. There are 92 words beginning with ZA, and they draw from an unusually wide range of languages. ZABAGLIONE is Italian (a warm egg custard dessert whipped with wine). ZACATON is Spanish (a type of Mexican grass used for brushes). ZADDICK is Yiddish (a righteous person in Jewish tradition). ZAZEN is Japanese (seated meditation in Zen Buddhism). This multilingual pedigree makes ZA- words a fascinating slice of how English absorbs vocabulary from around the world.
Two practical facts. First, the ZA- group clusters heavily in the 6-to-7 letter range, with 22 and 23 words respectively. That's the sweet spot for Scrabble plays that can reach premium squares without needing a bingo. ZABAJONE (variant spelling of zabaglione), ZACATON, ZADDICK, ZAGGING — these mid-length words score well because Z is worth 10 points and the remaining tiles are usually common letters. Second, ZA itself has an unusual etymology. It entered the Scrabble dictionary as informal slang for pizza, originally from American college slang in the 1960s. The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary added it, and overnight it became one of the most played words in tournament Scrabble. One tip: don't forget ZAP (15 points), ZAG (14 points), and ZAX (19 points, a slate-cutting tool) as quick three-letter plays that start with ZA.
For the complete Z picture, see words starting with Z for all 601 Z-starters. Pair this with words ending in ZA for patterns like PIZZA and PIAZZA. And for the other ultra-specific starting pattern, check words starting with QI — another tiny but powerful word group built around a high-value tile.
FAQ
What is the highest-scoring ZA- word in Scrabble?
ZAX (a pointed tool for cutting roofing slates) scores 19 base points for just three tiles, making it one of the most efficient plays in the game. ZAZEN (17 points) and ZAPPY (19 points, if valid in your dictionary) are also strong. For longer plays, ZABAGLIONE scores 23 base points but requires a very specific tile draw. For more high-scoring Z plays, see words starting with Z and words ending in Z.
Is ZABAGLIONE valid in Scrabble?
Yes, ZABAGLIONE and its variant ZABAIONE are both accepted in Scrabble dictionaries (TWL and SOWPODS). ZABAGLIONE is 11 letters and ZABAIONE is 8, making the shorter form more practical for actual board play. Both refer to the Italian dessert made from egg yolks, sugar, and Marsala wine. For more food-related word game entries, explore words starting with Z where ZITI and ZUCCHINI also appear.
How many two-letter words start with Z?
Just one: ZA. That's it. Compare this to O, which has twelve two-letter options (see words starting with O), or A, which also has many. ZA's uniqueness as the sole two-letter Z-starter is exactly what makes it so important — it's your only short play when the board is cramped and you're holding a Z tile. Pair it with words starting with QI for the other must-know two-letter high-scorer.