Words that Start with Z

If you’re searching for common words that start with Z, then you’ve come to the right place! This article will provide you with different lists of more than 1000 Z words in English to help increase your vocabulary words as well as word game skills.

In the modern English alphabet, Z is the twenty-sixth and last letter. Z originated with the Phoenicians. It can also be found in Semitic texts where it represented “weapon” or “sword.”

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What Are Z Words?

Z is generally considered the least used letter in both text and dictionaries. It occurs less than 1% of the time in both.

Z has the distinction of having been one of the few letters removed and then returned to the alphabet. In about 300 BC, the Romans removed it from the alphabet because they thought it was archaic and unnecessary Within 200 years it was reintroduced.

Z was not always the last letter of the alphabet. The ampersand (&) was originally the 27th letter. It was initially pronounced “per se,” but over time, the words slurred together and became “ampersand.” It was considered part of the alphabet as late as the 1800’s.

Z is usually pronounced “zzz.”

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Positive Words that Start with Z

Below are 25 words that start with Z that are considered positive:

Zanily
Zaniness
Zany
Zap
Zappy
Zazzy
Zeal
Zealed
Zealful
Zealous
Zen
Zenith
Zephyr
Zest
Zesty
Zillion
Zing
Zion
Zip
Zippered
Zippy
Zoom
Zoom
Zooty
Zowie

Descriptive Words that Start with Z

Below are 25 words used to describe things that start with Z (Z words):

Zaftig
Zany
Zealot
Zealous
Zero
Zeroth
Zestless
Zigzag
Zillion
Zillionth
Zinciferous
Zing
Zingy
Zippy
Zodiacal
Zoetic
Zombie
Zonal
Zoning
Zonked
Zoologic
Zoological
Zoomer
Zooty
Zygomatic

Related: Descriptive Words

Adjectives that Start with Z

Here is a handy list of 25 adjectives that start with Z:

Zaftig
Zany
Zappy
Zazzy
Zealous
Zen
Zero
Zestful
Zesty
Zibeline
Zigzag
Zillionth
Zingy
Zippy
Zodiacal
Zoetic
Zonal
Zoning
Zonked
Zoogenic
Zoophagous
Zygomatic
Zygomorphic
Zymoid
Zymolytic

Z Words That Are Used to Describe Someone

Followings are 25 useful words that start with Z that are used to describe a person:

Zambian
Zany
Zappy
Zazzy
Zealful
Zealot
Zealous
Zen
Zeroth
Zestful
Zesty
Zesty
Ziftig
Zimbabwean
Zingy
Zionist
Zippy
Zippy
Zoftig
Zombie
Zoomer
Zoonotic
Zooty
Zowie
Zygomorphic

Nouns that Start with Z

A helpful list of 25 nouns that start with Z:

Zapper
Zealot
Zebra
Zebrafish
Zenith
Zephyr
Zeppelin
Ziggurat
Zillion
Zinc
Zinger
Zionism
Zipline
Ziploc
Zipper
Zircon
Zirconium
Ziti
Zodiac
Zone
Zoo
Zookeeper
Zoologist
Zoology
Zucchini

Verbs that Start with Z

Below are 25 verbs that start with Z:

Zany
Zapped
Zaps
Zeal
Zero
Zeroed
Zest
Zigger
Zighyr
Zigzag
Zinc
Zing
Zinged
Zinging
Zip
Zipped
Zipping
Zips
Zip-tie
Zone
Zone-out
Zonned
Zoom
Zoomed
Zooming

Things that Start with Z

Zipper
Zucchini
Zester
Zapper
Zenith
Zephyr
Zamboni
Zigzag
Zither
Zoom lens
Zircon
Zodiac
Zoot suit
Zinger
Zinc
Ziplock bag
Zero gravity chair
Zeppelin

Learn more: Things that Start with Z

Cool Words that Start with Z

Zephyr
Zestful
Zany
Zillionaire
Zenith
Zonal
Zymurgy
Zoology
Zest
Zealous
Zigzag
Zing
Zoomorphic
Zonal
Zygomatic
Zootomy
Zoonosis
Zootrophic
Zither
Zygote

Related: Cool Words

Inspirational Words that Start with Z

Zestful
Zillionaire
Zenith
Zest
Zing
Zeal
Zany
Zen

Explore more: Inspirational Words

Places that Start with Z

Zambia
Zimbabwe
Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Zermatt (Switzerland)
Zuri ch (Switzerland)
Zagreb (Croatia)
Zakynthos (Greece)
Zell am See (Austria)
Zihuatanejo (Mexico)
Zion National Park (USA)

Animals that Start with Z

Zebra
Zebu
Zorilla
Zokor
Zorro
Zebra Finch
Zigzag Salamander
Zebra Shark
Zebrafish

Fruits that Start with Z

Ziziphus
Zalacca
Zaboca
Zambo
Zante currant
Zapote
Zhe fruit
Zedoary

Foods that Start with Z

Za’atar
Zabaglione
Zampone
Zander
Zapote
Zarda
Zareba
Zatar
Zaubertrank
Zebra Cakes
Zebra Mussels
Zebu
Zeljanica
Zenzero
Zesty Cheese
Zhajiangmian
Zharkoye
Zinfandel Grapes
Ziti

Learn more: Foods that Start with Z

Girl Names that Start with the Letter “Z”

Zoey
Zara
Zaina
Zola
Zahara
Zuri
Zella
Zayla
Zephyr
Zaira
Zosia
Zena
Zaida
Zinnia
Zabrina
Zoraida
Zyla
Zariyah
Zuleika
Zafira

Boy Names that Start with the Letter “Z”

Zachary
Zane
Zeke
Zion
Zachariah
Zayden
Zavier
Zephaniah
Zebulon
Zidane
Zorion
Zoltan
Zimri
Zain
Zaki
Zeb
Zeno
Ziven
Zev
Ziad

More about The Letter “Z”

The letter Z originates with the Phoenician glyph “zayin,” which means “weapon.” It looked similar to our current capital “I.” When the Greeks began using it, they called it “zeta.” But in about 300 BC, the Roman Censor Appius Claudius Caecus actually removed the letter from the alphabet. Why? Even back then it was used so infrequently that he considered it outdated and archaic.

200 years later, the Z reappeared in the Latin alphabet, but it was initially used only in Greek words.

Today, the Z is still around, but it there remains some “controversy.” Americans pronounce the letter as “zee.” The British (as well as the Canadians, and in fact, most of the world) pronounce it as “zed.” Why? Some suggest it is simply because “zee” rhymes with other letters. It seems to “fit” more into the alphabet (no other letter rhymes with “zed”). It may also have something to do with the American Revolution. As the United States developed into its own nation, the Founding Fathers wanted to establish an “identity” that was different, and distinct from the British. At the time, both “zee” and “zed” were being used. By pushing the use of “zee,” it could have helped create this new identity.

And then there is the song. In 1835, a Boston music publisher copyrighted the “alphabet song,” (which is officially called, “The A.B.C., a German air with variations for the flute with an easy accompaniment for the piano forte”). The tune was the same as other songs, such as “Baa, Baa, Black Sheet,” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” But he finished the alphabet pronouncing Z as “zee.”

Generations of American children have used this song to learn the alphabet. But, even as with anything grammar related (or music related, for that matter), there are some variations. Although most versions of the song finish up the letters with:

“…W, X, Y, and Z,”

Some versions will use:

“…W, X, Y, Zed or Zee.”

Regardless of the pronunciation, there are relatively few words that begin with Z.

Z Words Image

Z Words