Zzzz

zzzz is a string of the letter z used primarily as an onomatopoeic representation of sleep or snoring in cartoons, comics, and online communication. The resemblance to the sound of snoring gives writers a simple, visual cue that a character is asleep, resting, or disengaged.

The form is informal and varies by context; people may write "zzzz" or "Zzzz," or stretch it by adding more z's (zzzzzz) to suggest longer or deeper sleep. In online communication, it is common in captions, memes, chat messages, and video subtitles to convey a sleeping or bored state without text. It is not a standardized word with a formal definition, and its meaning can depend on surrounding text and culture.

Beyond its use to signal sleep, zzz may appear as a decorative motif in designs, logos, or fictional works to evoke restfulness, laziness, or slumber. It has proliferated through internet culture since the late 20th century and remains a recognizable shorthand across languages that use Latin script.

See also: Onomatopoeia; Sleep; Snoring.