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• za
  za

  noun

  pizza.
• zā
  zā

  noun

  the 11th letter of the Arabic alphabet.
• ẓā
  ẓā

  noun

  the 17th letter of the Arabic alphabet.
• ZA
  ZA

  abbreviation

  South Africa (international car registration)

za

¹ American  

[zah] / zɑ /

noun

Slang.

1. pizza.

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zā ² American  

[zah] / zɑ /

noun

1. the 11th letter of the Arabic alphabet.

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ẓā ³ American  

[zah] / zɑ /

noun

1. the 17th letter of the Arabic alphabet.

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ZA ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. South Africa (international car registration)

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za ² British  

abbreviation

1. South Africa

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Etymology

Origin of za¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70; by shortening and alteration

Origin of zā²

< Arabic zā ( y )

Origin of ẓā³

From Arabic

Example Sentences

The shirts draped on the seats said Hvala za vse — “Thanks for everything” in Slovenian.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2025

Scrabble annoys me; I can’t trust a game in which a well-played za scores more points than, well, abbacy.

From Slate • Feb. 19, 2020

Actual Needs: A large Papa John's za for Jer-Bear, because he's been a little hangry of late.

From Golf Digest • Apr. 25, 2018

Also on the menu: Japanese pickled vegetables and Chinese yu za kuei, traditional fried crullers.

From New York Times • Dec. 15, 2011

“Listen, I—” “No, you lissen. Each of dogs iss vorth three thousand U.S. dollars. Zat iss twelve thousand bucks barking here in za truck. Vhat happens, dog gets bit by snake? Dog dies, yah?”

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen