zo

Zo is a term with multiple uses in language, ethnography, and onomastics. In ethnography, Zo (also rendered Zou or Zomi in various communities) refers to a cluster of Tibeto-Burman–speaking peoples in parts of northeast India and western Myanmar. The name is used by scholars and by the communities themselves to describe related tribes whose identities and languages are interconnected, yet distinct in speech and custom. Subgroups commonly associated with the Zo designation include Zou, Zomi, Paite, and Thadou, among others, with regional variations in self-identification.

The Zo languages constitute a branch of the Tibeto-Burman languages within the broader Sino-Tibetan family. They are spoken across several hill districts and border areas, with dialects that often align with the Zo subgroups. Orthographies, literacy efforts, and linguistic documentation vary by community, reflecting ongoing processes of standardization and education.

As a personal name, Zo can appear as a given name or nickname in some cultures. It is sometimes used as a short form of Zoe or other names, and can function as a standalone name in certain contexts, with neutral or gender-nonconforming associations in popular usage.

See also Zou, Zomi, Mizo, Paite.