Here you’ll find 26 Slang words that start with Z, organized from “z’s” to “zush”. They are mostly informal, often regional, and useful for writers, language learners, and social media.
[Slang words that start with Z] are informal or colloquial terms beginning with Z, often playful or region-specific. Many emerged through online communities and youth culture over recent decades.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Meaning, Region, Register, Example, and Source.
Word: Shows the slang term as written so you can find and reference each entry quickly.
Meaning: Gives a concise one-line definition so you understand the term’s typical sense and usage.
Region: Notes the geographic or community origin so you know where the term commonly appears.
Register: Labels tone and formality (informal, pejorative, playful) so you judge appropriateness for your audience.
Example: Provides one brief sentence showing natural use, so you can model sentences or check meaning.
Source: Lists where the term was observed or referenced, helping you follow up or assess context quickly.
Slang words that start with Z
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| za | n. | A pizza. | US, CAN; informal |
| za | n. | High-quality, potent marijuana. | US; youth/drug slang |
| zaddy | n. | A stylish, attractive, and confident older man. | General; internet slang |
| zap | v. | To kill, destroy, attack, or energize suddenly. | General; informal |
| zaza | n. | Very high-quality, exotic marijuana. | US; youth/drug slang |
| zib | n. | A pimple or zit. | US; informal |
| zilch | n. | Absolutely nothing; zero; nada. | US; informal |
| zillion | n. | An enormous, indefinite number. | General; informal/hyperbole |
| zine | n. | A small-circulation, self-published work. | General; informal/arts |
| zinger | n. | A sharp, witty, or surprising remark. | General; informal |
| zip | n. | Nothing; zero. | US; informal |
| zit | n. | A pimple on the skin. | General; informal |
| zob | n. | A penis. | AUS; vulgar/pejorative |
| zod | n. | An idiot; a foolish or worthless person. | UK, AUS; pejorative |
| zombie | n. | An apathetic, unresponsive, or listless person. | General; informal |
| zombify | v. | To drain of life, energy, or initiative. | General; informal |
| zonk | v. | To fall asleep or lose consciousness suddenly. | General; informal |
| zonked | adj. | Completely exhausted or highly intoxicated. | General; informal |
| zonky | adj. | Crazy, strange, or unconventional. | General; informal |
| zoomer | n. | A member of Generation Z. | General; internet slang |
| zoot | n. | A marijuana cigarette; a joint. | UK, AUS; drug slang |
| zooted | adj. | Heavily intoxicated, especially from marijuana. | US; drug slang |
| zorch | v. | To destroy; to overwhelm; to move at high speed. | US; youth/sci-fi slang |
| zot | v./interj. | To zap, hit, or destroy. | US; informal/humorous |
| z‘s | n. | Sleep. | General; informal |
| zush | v. | To primp or make something more stylish and exciting. | US, UK; informal |
Descriptions
za
A casual, clipped form of the word ‘pizza’, used for convenience. Example: “Let’s just order a za for dinner tonight.”
za
A shortened term for ‘zaza’ or ‘exotic’, referring to top-shelf cannabis. Example: “He only smokes the best za from California.”
zaddy
A playful, more intense version of ‘daddy’ used to describe a handsome man. Example: “With that suit and silver hair, he’s a total zaddy.”
zap
Often used for remote controls, video games, or a sudden burst of energy. Example: “Can you zap the TV to the news channel?”
zaza
Derived from the word ‘exotic’ and popularized in hip-hop culture. Example: “The dispensary just got some new zaza in stock.”
zib
A less-common slang synonym for the word ‘zit’, used informally. Example: “I hate getting a zib on my nose right before a date.”
zilch
An emphatic way to say ‘nothing’, likely derived from a comic strip character. Example: “I checked my bank account and there was zilch in it.”
zillion
A hyperbolic term used to exaggerate a large quantity, not a real number. Example: “I have a zillion things to do before my vacation.”
zine
A shortened form of ‘fanzine’ or ‘magazine’, popular in DIY and subcultures. Example: “She creates a zine about punk rock every month.”
zinger
Often used to describe a clever comeback or a pointed joke that catches someone off guard. Example: “He ended the debate with a real zinger.”
zip
Commonly used in sports scores or to mean ‘nothing at all’. Example: “We knew zip about the surprise test.”
zit
A very common, informal term for a pimple, especially among young people. Example: “I got a huge zit right before picture day.”
zob
An offensive and dismissive slang term for a penis. Example: “He was acting like a total zob at the party.”
zod
An insult used to dismiss someone as stupid or useless. Example: “Don’t listen to him, he’s a complete zod.”
zombie
A metaphorical use of the monster to describe someone who seems emotionally dead or exhausted. Example: “After the all-nighter, I was a total zombie at work.”
zombify
A slang verb created from the noun ‘zombie’ to describe making someone listless. Example: “That boring lecture is going to zombify the entire class.”
zonk
Often used with ‘out’ to describe collapsing from exhaustion or intoxication. Example: “I’m so tired, I’m going to zonk as soon as I get home.”
zonked
Describes a state of extreme fatigue or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Example: “After running the marathon, I was completely zonked.”
zonky
A quirky adjective to describe something or someone eccentric or bizarre. Example: “He has a really zonky sense of style that I love.”
zoomer
A nickname for someone born in the late 1990s to early 2010s. Example: “My little cousin is a true zoomer; he’s always on TikTok.”
zoot
A term for a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette, often associated with older slang but still in use. Example: “He’s outside in the garden smoking a zoot.”
zooted
Describes the state of being very high on a substance. Example: “They were all zooted at the concert last night and couldn’t stop laughing.”
zorch
A term from 1960s-70s youth and sci-fi culture for complete destruction or speed. Example: “The race car is about to zorch past the finish line.”
zot
An onomatopoeic word popularized by the comic strip B.C. to represent a quick strike. Example: “The bug flew into the zapper and got a zot!”
z‘s
Refers to the ‘Zzz’ sound used in comics to represent sleeping. Example: “I really need to catch some z’s before my big exam tomorrow.”
zush
Also spelled ‘zhuzh’, it means to add a finishing touch or flair. Example: “Let me just zush my hair a bit before we go inside.”