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The Z is worth 10 points in Scrabble, the joint highest value tile on the board alongside the Q. That makes every word with a Z a scoring opportunity, and it makes the short Z words some of the most valuable plays you can memorize. Drop a Z on a premium square and a tiny two or three-letter word can outscore a long ordinary one.
This page covers the Z words that matter most. We start with the two-letter Z word every player needs, move through the three-letter Z words that turn the corner of a board into points, and finish with the highest scoring Z words for when you want a single huge play. Point values are shown for each, followed by tips for getting the most from your Z.
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In the standard North American TWL dictionary there is one two-letter Z word, and it is a gem. ZA is informal for a slice of pizza, and it lets you place a Z next to an existing tile for an instant 11 points before any bonus. Players using the SOWPODS dictionary also have ZO, a Tibetan hybrid animal, as a second option.
| Word | Points | Dictionary | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA | 11 | TWL and SOWPODS | Slang for pizza |
| ZO | 11 | SOWPODS only | A Tibetan hybrid ox |
When you can build a longer word, the Z really pays off, especially in words that pack two Z tiles. PIZZAZZ is the headline act with four Z tiles for a base score of 45. Here are some of the biggest single-word Z scores in the game.
| Word | Points | Length | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIZZAZZ | 45 | 7 letters | Flair and energy |
| JAZZED | 32 | 6 letters | Made lively |
| FRIZZY | 30 | 6 letters | Tightly curled |
| BUZZED | 27 | 6 letters | Made a humming sound |
| PUZZLE | 26 | 6 letters | A brain teaser |
| QUARTZ | 24 | 6 letters | A hard mineral |
| ZEPHYR | 23 | 6 letters | A gentle breeze |
| ZOMBIE | 19 | 6 letters | A walking dead |
1. Keep ZA at the front of your mind. The two-letter ZA is the single most useful Z play in TWL. It lets you slot a Z beside an existing tile for 11 points, and on a double letter square that jumps to 21. Whenever you hold a Z and an A, look for an open spot where ZA fits.
2. Aim the Z at a colored square. Because the Z is worth 10, landing it on a double letter score adds 10 points and a triple letter score adds 20, before the rest of the word counts. Patience with a heavy tile pays off more than rushing it onto a plain square.
3. Use parallel plays. Short Z words like ZA, ZO, ZED, and ZIT can be laid alongside an existing word so the Z forms a second word in the crossing direction. These overlaps often score the Z twice in a single turn.
4. Do not hoard the Z too long. A high tile sitting on your rack is dead weight that limits your options. If a clean 20-point play is available now, take it rather than gambling on a perfect square that may never open up.
5. The same Z words work in Words With Friends. The Z is worth 10 in Words With Friends as well, and the short Z words are valid there too. The board layout differs, so scout where the bonus squares sit before you commit your Z.
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