Lexical items containing both “q” and “z” are relatively uncommon in English. Examples include “quiz,” “quartz,” and less common words like “tranquilizer” and “squeezed.” Often, the “q” is followed by a “u,” reflecting the language’s orthographic conventions. This distinctive combination can create visually striking and memorable terms.
The presence of these two letters within a single word often hints at a word’s etymology. Many originate from outside English, frequently borrowed from Greek (e.g., “quartz”) or Arabic (e.g., “qazwini,” a demonym). This etymological diversity contributes to the richness and complexity of the lexicon. Furthermore, such unique letter pairings can be valuable in fields like lexicography, cryptography, and word games.
