ZO Words: Zoology, Zones, and Zombies
Nearly every ZO- word connects to one of two Greek roots. ZOON (animal) gives us ZOOLOGY, ZODIAC, ZOOPLANKTON, and the entire zoo of scientific terms. ZONE (belt or girdle) gives us ZONAL, ZONING, TIMEZONE. Beyond these two branches, you get ZOMBIE (from Haitian Creole via West African languages), ZOETROPE (an early animation device), and the oddball ZO itself — a Tibetan yak-cattle hybrid that's valid in Scrabble for 11 points.
ZO- words are a crossword solver's friend because Z narrows possibilities drastically. If a crossword has Z-O at the start, you're choosing between a manageable set: ZONE, ZOOM, ZOO, ZOMBIE, ZODIAC, ZOOLOGY. In harder puzzles, ZOETROPE (clued via early cinema or animation), ZOCALO (a Mexican town square), and ZOEA (a larval stage of crabs) make appearances. Each of these is valid in Scrabble too, with ZODIAC scoring 18 points and ZOETROPE scoring 21.
Scoring tip: ZO as a two-letter word scores 11 points in Scrabble — it's the Tibetan hybrid cattle that nobody expects. Playing ZO parallel to existing words for multi-word scoring is a move that wins games. For the broader Z family, check words starting with ZU for ZUCCHINI and related words, and words starting with QI for another unusual two-letter opener. words starting with A covers AZOIC and other A+ZO combinations.
FAQ
Is ZO a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, ZO is valid in SOWPODS (international Scrabble). It refers to a dzo — a hybrid between a yak and domestic cattle, found in Tibet and Mongolia. At 11 points for two tiles, it's one of the highest per-tile scores possible. The plural ZOS is also valid. For other high-value two-letter words, explore words starting with QI.
What does ZODIAC have to do with animals?
ZODIAC comes from Greek zodiakos, meaning "circle of little animals." The zodiacal constellations were named after animals and mythological creatures — Aries the Ram, Taurus the Bull, Leo the Lion. The ZO- root meaning "animal" connects directly to ZOOLOGY (study of animals) and ZOO (originally "zoological garden"). For more Greek-rooted words, see words starting with PH.