Q without U words
Almost every English word with a Q has a U right after it: 99% of the 2,527 Q words in our dictionary. The exceptions are a short list worth learning for Scrabble, because a Q with no U on your rack is otherwise stuck. Our list has 29 of them, and the most useful are QAT, QAID and QOPH.
All 29 words, by length
3 letters: SUQ (12), QAT (12)
4 letters: QAID (14), QOPH (18), SUQS (13), QATS (13)
5 letters: FAQIR (17), QANAT (14), QAIDS (15), UMIAQ (16), TRANQ (14), QOPHS (19)
6 letters: QWERTY (21), QANATS (15), QIVIUT (18), FAQIRS (18), SHEQEL (18), BUQSHA (20), TRANQS (15), QINTAR (15), QINDAR (16), UMIAQS (17)
7 letters: QINTARS (16), BUQSHAS (21), QINDARS (17), QIVIUTS (19), QWERTYS (22)
8 letters: SHEQALIM (22), QINDARKA (22)
Numbers are Scrabble points at face value. Our list is ENABLE; official tournament lists may differ.
The ones worth learning
- QAT (12 points): a shrub whose leaves are chewed as a stimulant. Only needs an A and a T, two of the most common tiles.
- QAID (14): a Muslim leader. Also QAIDS.
- QOPH (18): a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The H and P make it a big score.
- FAQIR (17): a variant spelling of fakir.
- TRANQ (14): short for tranquilizer, and one of the few Q-final words.
- SUQ (12): a marketplace; a variant of souk.
Most of the rest are plurals of these, or rare currency and object names (QINTAR, QINDARKA, BUQSHA) that you'll seldom have the letters for.
What about QI?
QI comes up a lot because some games accept it and others don't. It isn't in ENABLE, the list we use, which was first released in 1997. Whether you can play it depends on your game's dictionary, so check the official Scrabble dictionary before a tournament game. For any other word, use our Scrabble word checker.
If you're stuck with a Q
- Look for a U on the board, not just on your rack. Playing QU words through a U already down is often the best score.
- Hold the Q only if a QAT, QAID or SUQ looks likely in the next turn or two.
- Otherwise exchange it. A Q left on your rack at the end of the game costs you 10 points.