Master the essential word lists that tournament players have memorized. From all 107 two-letter words to Q without U—dominate Scrabble and Words With Friends.
Click any category below to view the complete word list with point values
• Based on TWL & SOWPODS dictionaries
Each list contains essential words that tournament players have memorized. Click any category to view the complete list with point values.
Understanding why these specific words matter is the first step to dominating the board
Scrabble isn't just about knowing big words—it's about knowing the right words. Tournament players don't win because they have larger vocabularies; they win because they've mastered specific word lists that unlock high-scoring opportunities invisible to casual players.
The difference between an average player and an expert often comes down to knowing obscure but legal 2-letter words like QI, ZA, and XI. These tiny words enable parallel plays—placing your word alongside existing words to create multiple scoring combinations simultaneously.
Our word lists are based on the official NASPA Word List (TWL) used in North American tournaments and the SOWPODS dictionary used internationally. Whether you're preparing for competition or just want to beat your family on game night, these lists are your secret weapon.
Understanding tile values and distribution is crucial for rack management and strategic play
| Points | Letters | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 pt | A E I L N O R S T U | Use for bingos & parallel plays |
| 2 pts | D G | Common endings (-ED, -ING) |
| 3 pts | B C M P | Target DL/TL squares |
| 4 pts | F H V W Y | Prioritize bonus squares |
| 5 pts | K | Only one K—use wisely |
| 8 pts | J X | J harder to place than X |
| 10 pts | Q Z | Learn Q-without-U words! |
| 0 pts | Blank | Save for bingos (7-letter words) |
Every serious Scrabble player has committed these specific word categories to memory. Here's why they matter.
Every competitive player has memorized all 107 two-letter words and every Q-without-U word. It's the absolute baseline for serious play. Playing without this knowledge is like playing chess without knowing how the knight moves.
J, X, Q, and Z on bonus squares can add 30-50 points per play. Knowing short words with these letters lets you deploy them strategically instead of getting stuck with unplayable tiles at game end.
The highest-scoring plays often depend on valid 2-letter combinations. Knowing that ZA, QI, XI, and XU are legal opens up board positions your opponents can't even see. One parallel play can score 40-60 points.
Drawing 5 vowels is frustrating—unless you know AALII, AQUAE, and OURIE. Vowel-heavy words let you dump excess vowels while still scoring, dramatically improving your next draw and keeping you competitive.
"The difference between a good player and a great player often comes down to knowing obscure 2 and 3-letter words. These small words open up the board and create scoring opportunities that others miss entirely."
Memorizing hundreds of words sounds daunting, but with the right approach you can master these lists faster than you think
Begin by memorizing all 107 two-letter words. Focus on unusual ones first: QI, XI, XU, ZA, JO—most players already know common words like AN, AT, GO. The unfamiliar words are where you gain your edge.
Getting stuck with Q and no U costs you 10 points at game end—unless you know the escape routes. QI (meaning "life force" in Chinese philosophy) will save you countless games. It's the most-played Q word by far.
Study short words containing J, X, and Z. These 8-10 point tiles become game-changers on bonus squares. JO, AX, ZA are just 2 letters but can score 20-30 points with the right placement.
Create flashcards or use apps like Anki with spaced repetition. Review words you miss more frequently. Even 10 minutes daily adds up to hundreds of words memorized per month. Tournament players drill word lists the way musicians practice scales.
Combine these word lists with our other tools to become an unstoppable player
Find all words from your rack letters instantly.
Discover words that maximize your point total.
Find letters to extend existing words on the board.
Rearrange letters to find hidden word possibilities.
Browse all valid words by letter count.
Verify if a word is valid in Scrabble or WWF.
Looking for more Scrabble resources? Visit NASPA for tournament information or Scrabble Solver for additional word finding tools.
There are 107 valid 2-letter words in the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (TWL/OTCWL) used in North American tournaments. The international SOWPODS dictionary includes 127 two-letter words with additional British spellings. These include common words like AN, AT, and GO, plus unusual ones like QI (life force), XI (Greek letter), XU (Vietnamese currency), and ZA (pizza). Memorizing all of them is considered essential for serious competitive play.
The most important Q-without-U words include: QI (life force, 11 pts), QOPH (Hebrew letter), QADI (Islamic judge), QAID (Muslim judge), QANAT (irrigation tunnel), QINTAR/QINDAR (Albanian currency units), TRANQ (tranquilizer), QWERTY (keyboard layout), and SUQS (marketplaces). QI is by far the most commonly played—it's short, easy to place, and can save you from being stuck with Q at game end (costing you 10 points).
2-letter words enable parallel plays—where you place a word alongside an existing word, creating multiple 2-letter combinations at once. This technique can score 30-50+ points by hitting multiple bonus squares and forming several words simultaneously. Without knowing valid 2-letter combinations, many high-scoring board positions are completely invisible. Tournament players consider 2-letter words the foundation of advanced Scrabble strategy.
A bingo (called a "bonus" in British English) occurs when you play all 7 tiles from your rack in a single turn. This awards a 50-point bonus on top of the word's regular score. Tournament players specifically study "bingo stems"—6-letter combinations like SATINE, RETINA, and TISANE that form valid 7-letter words with almost any added letter. A typical tournament game features 2-3 bingos per player.
TWL (Tournament Word List, also called OTCWL) is used in North American tournaments and contains approximately 192,000 words. SOWPODS (or CSW - Collins Scrabble Words) is used internationally and contains about 280,000 words, including British spellings and words not found in American dictionaries. For casual play and apps like Words With Friends, either dictionary may apply. Tournament players must know which dictionary their competition uses.
Tournament players use spaced repetition systems (like Anki flashcard software), word list drilling software like Zyzzyva, and consistent daily practice. The typical learning order is: all 2-letter words first, then Q-without-U words, then 3-letter words with J/X/Z, then common bingo stems. Many also study hook words (letters that extend existing words) to maximize board control. Even 10 minutes of daily drilling produces significant improvement over weeks.
Q and Z are worth 10 points each, making them the highest-value tiles. J and X follow at 8 points each. Placing these on a Double Letter (DL) square doubles their value to 16-20 points; a Triple Letter (TL) square triples them to 24-30 points. Combined with word multipliers, a single Q or Z can contribute 60+ points to a word. That's why learning short words with these letters is essential—you need ways to play them before the game ends.
Vowel-heavy words let you "dump" excess vowels while still scoring. Key words include: AALII (Hawaiian shrub), AQUAE (plural of aqua), AERIE (eagle's nest), OURIE (shivery), QUEUE, ADIEU, AUDIO, URAEI (plural of uraeus), AUREI (Roman gold coins), and LOOIE (lieutenant). Learning these words prevents getting stuck with an unplayable rack of all vowels—a common problem that can cost you turns and games.
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