Yes. ZA is a valid word.
ZA is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
ZA is in the NASPA Word List 2023 (NWL2023), the North American list that Tileside uses for challenges and the one used in club and tournament play.
About ZA
ZA is worth 11 before bonuses, and with the Z on a triple-letter square where ZA and another word both use it, the Z can count 30 points in each direction. It hooks into ZAG, ZAP, ZAS and ZAX.
Settle the next one at the table: score your game free in Tileside →
ZA scores 11 points
Before any bonus squares: Z 10 + A 1 = 11. On a double-word square that's 22, on a triple-word 33, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.
Example: ZA as the first play
Later in the game, put the Z on a 3L square and ZA is worth 31 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
Longer words from ZA
Other forms of ZA (1):
- ZASform of ZA: a pizza
Words that start with ZA:
- ZAGSform of ZAG: an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions
- ZANYa buffoon in one of the old comedies
- ZAPSform of ZAP: a sudden event that imparts energy or excitement, usually with a dramatic impact
- ZARFan ornamental metal cup-shaped holder for a hot coffee cup
- ZAIDA
- ZAIDY
- ZAIREthe basic unit of money in Zaire
- ZAKATthe fourth pillar of Islam is almsgiving as an act of worship
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of ZA and these are still words:
Same letters, other words
Memory tip
ZA is slang for pizza; picture a Z-shaped slice. It is the only two-letter Z word in the North American list, and the Z is worth 10.
On these lists
Check words at the table, free
Tileside keeps score, checks words like this one during a challenge, tracks the tiles left in the bag and times turns. It runs in your phone's browser with no account and works offline.
Tileside checks words against the North American list, the NASPA Word List 2023. Your group's chosen dictionary always wins. Playing the international (Collins) list? Turn on its 20 extra two-letter words in Setup.
Word list: NASPA Word List 2023, used under license. NASPA Word List 2023 Edition © NASPA 2023. The copy included in this app is licensed for personal use. You may not use it for any commercial purposes.
Works with the Scrabble board game, played at the table. Tileside is an independent product, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Scrabble.