-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 D4lFrZ06YXPPYpfNfyWF9vB9DWpCum0uUUP9MS9gEVjSPyiJEJkrYm9jBD2OeQJJ
 qmVTNXCKqjldosVi7ThJmA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001262452-03-000004.txt : 20031126
<SEC-HEADER>0001262452-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20031126
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031126151457
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001262452-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031125
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031126

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROMANO PAMELA J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001262452

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04129
		FILM NUMBER:		031026295

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 W WALNUT HILL LN
		STREET 2:		MS 6B-3
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75038
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9725804149

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZALE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000109156
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-JEWELRY STORES [5944]
		IRS NUMBER:				750675400
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 W WALNUT HILL LN
		STREET 2:		MS 6B-3
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75038
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9725804000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 WEST WALNUT HILL LANE
		STREET 2:		MAIL STOP 6B-3
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75038-1003

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ZALE JEWELRY CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710510
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-25</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000109156</issuerCik><issuerName>ZALE CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ZLC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001262452</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ROMANO PAMELA J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ZALE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>901 WEST WALNUT HILL LANE</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>IRVING</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>75038-1033</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Group Senior Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationsh
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><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>43.0313</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-07-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-07-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>43.5</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-07-15</value></exerciseDate><expiration
Date><value>2009-07-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>46.46</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-07-22</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecur
ity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Hilary Molay</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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