Words That Start With the Letter Z

Understanding of the letter Z can be aided by helping your children find relatable words that start with the letter Z.

Learning letters should be fun and interesting in order to be effective. That means taking every opportunity that presents itself to make the letter Z something your child can recognize in their daily life.

Z is for…

Zappy, another word for lively.

Zeal, or excited enthusiasm!

For some reason, both of these words make me think of Poppy the Troll Princess! Don’t be a Bergen! 

For more words that start with the letter Z, I found a list that can guide you to fun and important values. Every child has the change to resonate with a different word that starts with the letter Z. It is important to find the words that best address your child’s development. 

Animals that start with the letter Z:

For many, a lesson on words that start with the letter Z would include the basics: dog, duck, deer, dolphin.

In the spirit of being daring and diverse in our deliberation, I scoured the globe.

My kids love to learn all of the interesting animal facts that they can get their hands on. The weirder, the better! They made the most priceless faces when I told them about a pink dolphin that lives in the Amazon River!

1. ZEBU

   • Zebu is a type of domesticated bovine found in India, East Africa and China. They almost look related to camels with the large hump over their shoulders! Hardier than most cattle, they are adapted to survive disease, intense heat, sun and humidity.

2. ZEBRA

   • All zebras have very short fur because they live in the African heat. Their fur has black and white stripes. The main part of the body has mostly vertical stripes, and the legs have horizontal stripes. They also have a dark line down their back and a white belly. Each of the different zebra species has a different type of stripes. Each individual zebra has a unique pattern of stripes, like a fingerprint! Zebras live in families with one male and lots of females. They can have babies (foals) when they are about five years old and can have one foal every year. Zebras mainly eat grass, but they also eat fruit, leaves and some vegetables.

3. ZORRO

   • The small-eared zorro is also known as the small-eared fox and the small-eared dog. This dog-like fox lives in rainforests of South America, including the Amazon basin. Very little is known about this nocturnal (most active at night) tropical fox. It is on the Brazilian list of endangered species due to extensive habitat loss. The short, thick fur is dark grey to black on the sides; the belly is reddish-brown mixed with white. There is a dark band running along the back and tail, plus a light-colored patch at the underside of the base of the tail. The long, bushy tail, sometimes called a sweep, is black. It helps the fox change direction quickly and keeps the fox’s feet and nose warm when it curls up to sleep. Like all foxes, it has sharp, curved claws, sharp teeth, and insulating fur.

4. ZEBRA FINCH

   • These beautiful little birds are only about 3 inches long.  The males are much brighter and more colourful than the females. The short, strong beak of a zebra finch is perfectly suited to dehusking and eating the small seeds that make up their diet. Zebra finches are the most common native finch in Australia and are found in grasslands and forests across the continent except in the coldest or most tropical areas. They are also a very popular pet around the world and are easy to keep.
     • Zebra finches are typically kept in pairs and entertain themselves without a lot of interaction with their owners. This species is a good choice if you don’t have a lot of time to spend with your pet bird. Other finches may be more brightly colored, but few are easier to keep successfully than zebra finches. When keeping zebra finches, the height of the cage is not as vital as having room to fly horizontally, so a long but short cage is acceptable. It is a good idea to get the largest cage you can. Place the finch cage in a quiet, secure location in your home. Unlike parrots, finches do not crave social interaction with people, so they will be less stressed if kept away from an activity hub.

5. ZOKOR

   • Zokors are mole-like animals that have chunky cylindrical bodies with short powerful limbs. Their feet are large and robust, and the long front claws are self-sharpening and very strong. The tiny eyes are very sensitive to light and nearly hidden in fur. Zokors are vigorous, efficient burrowers. Excavating tunnels with their front feet and claws, they rake loosened soil under themselves, using their incisor teeth to cut obstructing roots.

The world is a wonderfully fascinating place. Delightful, dazzling, diverse – Animals that start with the letter Z are just one small part of our adventure.

Check out these awesome coloring sheets for each animal that starts with the letter z!

• Zebu
• Zebra
• Zorro
• Zebra Finch
  
• Zokor

Places starting with the letter Z:

Our journey around the planet brings us to some fascinating places that start with the letter Z.

1. Zion National Park 

   • Zion National Park is located within the state of Utah in southwestern United States. The park was established on November 19, 1919 and covers 219 square miles. That’s a lot of 19s!  A million years of flowing water has cut through the red and white beds of Navajo sandstone that form the sheer walls of Zion. Unlike the Grand Canyon where you stand on the rim and look out, Zion Canyon is usually viewed from the bottom looking up. 
     • It’s no surprise that Zion National Park is one of our top ten family road trip destinations! 

2. New Zealand

   • New Zealand is an island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Separated from any other land mass, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal and plant life. 82% of the plants and animals found here are found nowhere else in the world. The forests were dominated by birds such as the kiwi and ancient – now extinct – Moa. The first Europeans known to have reached New Zealand were Dutch explorer Abel Tasman and his crew in 1642. 

3. Zimbabwe

   • Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is is home to the famous waterfall, Victoria Falls, which are a feature of the river Zambezi and also the Great Zimbabwe, the ancient architectural monument from which the country was named after. The country is mostly savanna. In the east it is moist and mountainous with tropical evergreen and hardwood forests.

Food that starts with the letter Z:

My first instinct when shouldering the burden of words that start with the letter Z was not my best. I’ve always had such a weakness for Zebra Cakes. 

Instead, I went for something that has been sneaking into my diet more and more, in a good way!

Z is for Zucchini

Did you know the Zucchini is technically a fruit, not a vegetable? This antioxidant rich food can lower your blood sugar. It has even been shown to help with weight loss when portion control is a struggle by helping you to feel full.

As a sucker for pasta in all forms, my carb-count has always been crazy high. One way I’m fighting this is by making Zucchini Noodles to replace my regular pasta! 

This website has 4 great methods for making them at home! One is certain to be perfect, for you!

It has been such a long journey! Words that start with the letter Z brings to a close our wonderful adventure of learning the alphabet. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have! Let us know in the comments if you’d like to see more educational series like this!