Is “Za” a Scrabble Word?

Za is an acceptable word in the Scrabble dictionary that's valid across all regions (US, Canada, UK, and the remainder of the world). It is worth a total of 11 points and is a great word to easily play the "Z" letter tile.

The word za is a noun simply meaning the word pizza in a shortened form. The inclusion of za in the Scrabble word list sparked some controversy among players when it was first introduced. Some players believed the word to be mere slang, however, it was eventually accepted and recognised by official dictionaries.

Za can be very easily extended to make some great high-scoring words such as "Zax" worth 19 points, "Zap" for 14 points, and "Zag" for 13 points. Because za is both easy to play and has a high-scoring potential, we recommend players memorise this word to enhance their playing abilities and chances of winning. Za's biggest potential for players comes from strategically playing it on bonus squares to maximise points.

For those looking for an alternative two-letter "Z" word, both "Zo" (a Tibetan breed of cattle) and "Ze" (a gender-neutral pronoun) are valid for 11 points.

noun

• (1970s, 1980s) Pizza.

How Many Points is Za Worth?

Za is a 2-letter word made up of the letter tiles Z: 10, A: 1. Its points breakdown is as follows:

• With no multipliers, Za is worth 11 points.
• On a double-word square, Za is worth 22 points.
• On a triple-word square, Za is worth 33 points.