Hooking with -ZA words
Endings like -ZA let you tack a word onto a tile already on the board, often turning a small play into a big one. Look for the high-value entries above to maximise points.
A quick statistical tour
Inside this list: 33 words spanning 5–13 letters. The biggest cluster sits at 5 letters (11 words), 11 entries are Wordle-sized at five letters, and 5 run to seven — bingo length if you can empty the rack. For points, the ceiling is EXTRAVAGANZA, worth 32.
Chasing points? The best five entries here are EXTRAVAGANZA (32), MYCORRHIZA (29), CZARITZA (28), PARAINFLUENZA (27), HUZZA (26). The longest entry is PARAINFLUENZA at 13 letters, and the average word here is worth about 21 points. If you are fishing for these words, keep Z (33 appearances), A (33) and I (13) on your rack.
Three words worth learning first
- STANZA is easy to keep in memory: 6 letters, 15 points, and no awkward tiles to hunt for.
- BAIZA — a 5-letter, 16-point play that slots into tight board lanes where longer words won't fit.
- BRAZA earns 16 points from just 5 tiles — and it is a word few opponents will bother to challenge.
Once those stick, file away the next tier too: COLZA (16), MATZA (16), MIRZA (16), PLAZA (16), CORYZA (20).
Why -ZA endings win turns
A reliable habit: every time you learn a new -ZA word, note whether it also takes a front extension. Words that extend at both ends are the ones that turn a 12-point play into a 40-point one, because you can bridge two premium squares. The top of this list — sorted by score — is where those double-duty words hide.
More endings
Narrow it down
Pair an ending with a length or starting letter in the Word Finder.