The Zăbala (in its uppermost course also: Zăbăluța) is a right tributary of the river Putna in Romania. Its source is in the Vrancea Mountains, close to the sources of the Putna, the Bâsca Mare and the Ghelința. It flows through the communes Nereju, Spulber, Paltin, Năruja. It discharges into the Putna near Valea Sării. Its length is 68 km (42 mi) and its basin size is 544 km2 (210 sq mi).