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Three-Letter Z Words to Improve Your Scrabble Game

By
Erik Arneson
Erik Arneson

Erik Arneson is a highly respected board game expert, sharing his 20 years of knowledge on gaming strategies. He's the author of the book, "17 Games You Can Play Right Now," has been a featured speaker at the American International Toy Fair, and is the former Vice President of the Strategy Gaming Society.

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Updated on 04/30/20
Scrabble three letter Z word

The Spruce / Margot Cavin​

Like the Q letter tile, the Z letter tile is worth 10 points in Scrabble. While drawing a Z might get you worried, have no fear. There are actually a number of simple-to-remember three-letter Z words that will help you boost your score and eliminate your fear of drawing the letter Z. Using one of these words, especially on a double or triple word score box, is the strategic gameplay that will immensely improve your score.

Agreeing Upon a Dictionary Prior to Gameplay

It is important to note that these words are legal according to the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 4th Edition. They may not be allowed if you use a different dictionary. The word list used in tournament games in the United States is known as the "Official Tournament and Club Word List," and was created by the National Scrabble Association. Make sure you know which dictionary will govern your word choices before using these. You might also want to learn Scrabble's legal two-letter words, words with a Q but no U, and other ways to improve your Scrabble play.

Three-Letter Z Words

Knowing the definition and point value of these three-letter Z words is helpful when playing competitive Scrabble.

  • ADZ (an edge tool to cut wood, 13 points)
  • AZO (compounds having nitrogen variously combined, 12 points)
  • BIZ (an occupation or line of work, 14 points)
  • COZ (an archaic word for cousin, 14 points)
  • CUZ (a person's cousin, 14 points)
  • DZO (a hybrid of a cow and a yak, 13 points)
  • FEZ (a felt cap, usually red, 15 points)
  • FIZ (alternate of fizz, 15 points)
  • LEZ (a lesbian, 12 points)
  • REZ (a North American Indian reservation or reserve, 12 points)
  • SEZ (non-standard spelling of "says," 12 points)
  • WIZ (someone who is dazzlingly skilled, 15 points)
  • ZAG (one of a series of sharp turns, 13 points)
  • ZAP (to strike suddenly and with force, 14 points)
  • ZAX (a tool similar to a hatchet, 19 points)
  • ZED (26th letter of the Roman alphabet, 13 points)
  • ZEE (26th letter of the Roman alphabet, 12 points)
  • ZEK (a prisoner at a Soviet prison, 16 points)
  • ZHO (a hybrid yak, a variant of dzo, 15 points)
  • ZIG (a sudden or sharp turn, 13 points)
  • ZIN (zinfandel wine, 12 points)
  • ZIP (to move quickly, 14 points)
  • ZIT (a pimple, 12 points)
  • ZOA (a region of the sky, 12 points)
  • ZOO (where wild animals are housed, 12 points)