Words With Z: Short, Common and High Scoring
Z is worth 10 points in Scrabble, so it can win a game when you play it well. There are 7,009 playable words with a Z: 532 start with it and 79 end with it. Here are the ones worth knowing.
Three letter Z words
Short words are where a Z earns the most, because they fit into tight spots on the board. Every three letter Z word, highest score first:
ZAX (a tool for cutting roof slates), ZEK (a prisoner in a Soviet labour camp) and ADZ (a woodworking tool) are worth learning even though you'll rarely say them.
There are no two letter Z words in the ENABLE list this site uses by default. ZA (short for pizza) is allowed in the official Scrabble dictionaries, so check which list your game uses.
The best four letter Z words
Words like JAZZ, FUZZ and FIZZ need two Zs. A standard Scrabble set has only one, so the second must come from a blank tile, which scores nothing.
Common words with Z
These are the Z words people use most. They're easy to remember and easy to spot on your rack:
Words with double Z
Words that end in Z
Words ending in Z are useful when the only open space is at the end of a word:
Getting the most from a Z
- Find a bonus square. A Z on a triple letter square is worth 30 points by itself.
- Score it twice. Place the Z where it forms two words at once, one across and one down, so it counts in both.
- Don't hold it too long. If you can't find a good spot within a turn or two, play it for a modest score rather than keep waiting.
To see every word your rack can make with a Z, type your letters into the Scrabble word finder, or browse the full list of words containing Z.