za

Za is an informal English shortening of pizza. It is used chiefly in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, and it is especially characteristic of casual takeaway or restaurant orders: “We’ll share a za.” The form is not a formal substitute for pizza, but it is fully understood in the contexts in which it occurs and often sounds more conversational than the full word. It can function as an ordinary countable noun, as in “two zas,” and may be used when ordering, discussing food, or naming a meal. Za belongs to the vocabulary of fast, relaxed speech rather than formal writing, business communication, or careful culinary description, where pizza would normally be preferred. Although short, it effectively captures the social atmosphere of an informal food order. Its history is equally compressed: like the word it shortens, za comes through English from Italian, whose own pizza ultimately goes back to a Romance form associated with Latin pice, meaning “pie.”

An informal short form of “pizza,” especially in casual speech and takeaway orders.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Etymology of za

Za is an English clipping of pizza, formed from its first consonant and final vowel. Pizza entered English from Italian, where pizza is a variant of piza and ultimately derives from Latin pice, an ablative form associated with the meaning “pie.” The shortened English form became established alongside the widespread use of pizza in casual food and takeaway culture.

Related word forms

How za is actually used

Informal and conversational, especially characteristic of takeaway and casual restaurant orders. The full word “pizza” is normally preferred in formal writing and careful culinary discussion.

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Rhymes with za