Lexical objects containing each the letters “b” and “z” current an intriguing subset of the English lexicon. Examples embody “bazaar,” “bronze,” and “embezzle.” These phrases, whereas various of their meanings and etymologies, share a typical orthographic thread. The location of “b” and “z” inside these phrases varies, generally showing consecutively, as in “blizzard,” and at different instances separated by different letters, as in “bamboozle.”
The presence of each “b” and “z” inside a single phrase usually contributes to a way of visible and sonic richness. The mix can lend an air of exoticism or complexity, reflecting the phrase’s origin or semantic nuances. Traditionally, the letter “z” has been much less frequent in English than “b,” and their mixed look sometimes factors to loanwords from different languages, reminiscent of Arabic or Greek. Inspecting these phrases affords a glimpse into the evolution of the language and the assimilation of exterior influences.
