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  • za
    za
    noun
  • 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.


2 American  
[zah] / zɑ /

noun

  1. the 11th letter of the Arabic alphabet.


ẓā 3 American  
[zah] / zɑ /

noun

  1. the 17th letter of the Arabic alphabet.


ZA 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. South Africa (international car registration)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

za 2 British  

abbreviation

  1. South Africa

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of za1

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

Origin of 2

< Arabic ( y )

Origin of ẓā3

From Arabic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Referred to as Dr ZA, she said she feared her job was on the line.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024

ZA: I never really felt like I was cut out for a 9 to 5.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2024

ZA Bank, operated by a unit of ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co Ltd, has set itself the goal of breaking even in five years.

From Reuters • Dec. 23, 2020

Inside Scrabble, even to some players of color, permitting slurs can feel no different than accepting that ZA is perfectly legit or that OK now meets the criteria for entry.

From Slate • Jun. 18, 2020

In making an observation, it is necessary to take the reading ZA on the long branch, and ZB on the short one.

From A Treatise on Meteorological Instruments Explanatory of Their Scientific Principles, Method of Construction, and Practical Utility by Negretti, Henry

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