Words Starting with Z

Browse word origins and etymology

Zadok

A biblical Hebrew name borne by a high priest who served under David and Solomon.

Zaffer

A yellowish-red variety of impure cobalt oxide formerly used as a pigment in glass and ceramics.

Zamba

A lively dance and musical style associated especially with parts of Argentina and Bolivia.

Zambezi

A major river in southern Africa, flowing through several countries to the Indian Ocean.

Zambezian

Relating to the Zambezi River or the regions through which it flows.

Zambia

A landlocked country in south-central Africa.

Zambian

Relating to Zambia or its people.

Zambra

A lively Spanish dance or festive gathering, especially associated with Andalusian and Romani traditions.

Zampogna

An Italian bagpipe, especially one associated with traditional pastoral music.

Zanichelli

An Italian surname and publishing name.

Zanni

A stock comic servant character in Italian commedia dell'arte.

Zannichelli

A surname, best known as the surname of the Italian botanist and physician Giovanni Girolamo Zannichelli.

Zannichellia

A genus of aquatic flowering plants, commonly called horned pondweeds.

Zany

A clownish, foolish, or wildly comic person or thing.

Zapote

A tropical fruit tree or its sweet, pulpy fruit, especially in Latin America.

Zapotec

A member of an Indigenous people of southern Mexico, or the language they speak.

Zeal

Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.

Zealot

A person who is fanatically committed to a cause or belief.

Zealotry

Excessive zeal, especially in religious or political pursuits.

Zealous

Having or showing zeal; passionate and fervent in pursuit of a cause or objective.