How to check a Scrabble word
- Type the word, up to 15 letters. Capitals and spaces do not matter.
- Press Check word. You get a yes or no for US Scrabble and for Words With Friends, with the points.
- Use the extras: letters you can add in front of or after the word (hooks), and other words made from the same letters (anagrams). Tap any of them to check it next.
- Share the result: the address bar now holds a link to this exact check.
The Scrabble dictionary behind the checker
A Scrabble word checker is only as good as its word list. This one uses NWL2023, the dictionary for Scrabble tournaments and clubs in the US and Canada, with every word from two to fifteen letters. It includes all 107 2 letter Scrabble words, the Q words without U and the newer additions that older lists miss.
The Words With Friends answer comes from ENABLE, the public word list that game started from. Its dictionary has changed over the years, so a handful of words may differ in the app. Collins Scrabble Words, used in the UK and most other countries, is not covered here.
Popular word checks
These are popular "is it a Scrabble word" searches in the US. 10 of the 20 are valid in US Scrabble. Each one has a page with its meaning and what to play instead. The Words With Friends column shows the ENABLE list the game started from; the app's own dictionary can differ.
| Word | Scrabble (US) | Words With Friends (ENABLE list) |
|---|---|---|
| qi | Yes, 11 points | No |
| vi | No | No |
| ze | No | No |
| za | Yes, 11 points | No |
| er | Yes, 2 points | Yes, 2 points |
| re | Yes, 2 points | Yes, 2 points |
| iq | No | No |
| jo | Yes, 9 points | Yes, 11 points |
| ra | No | No |
| xi | Yes, 9 points | Yes, 9 points |
| zi | No | No |
| que | No | No |
| ri | No | No |
| oz | No | No |
| un | Yes, 2 points | Yes, 4 points |
| ja | No | No |
| ya | Yes, 5 points | Yes, 4 points |
| ex | Yes, 9 points | Yes, 9 points |
| ir | No | No |
| na | Yes, 2 points | Yes, 3 points |
What makes a word valid
- It is in the word list for the game you play. Being in a general dictionary is not enough.
- It is not a proper name, an abbreviation or a prefix: IQ, OZ and RI are out, QI and ZA are in.
- Plurals and verb forms count only when the list has them: QIS and ZAS are listed, for example.
- Need words from a rack instead of checking one? Use the word finder.
Frequently asked questions
- Which Scrabble dictionary does this word checker use?
- It checks words against NWL2023, the current word list for Scrabble tournament and club play in the US and Canada. It is the most up-to-date North American list, so newer words such as OK, EW, ZEN and EMOJI are included.
- Is this the official Scrabble dictionary?
- It uses the official North American tournament word list, NWL2023. Printed dictionaries for home play leave out some words, such as offensive ones, so a few words that are valid here may be missing from a home-play book.
- Why is a word valid in Scrabble but not in Words With Friends?
- The two games use different word lists. For Words With Friends we check ENABLE, the public list the game's dictionary grew from, so treat that answer as a strong guide rather than a promise. For example, QI and ZA are valid in US Scrabble but not in ENABLE.
- Can I check words for UK or international Scrabble?
- Not yet. Players outside North America use Collins Scrabble Words, which has extra words such as ZE and JA. This checker answers for the US and Canadian list only. More about ZE, More about JA.
- Are names and abbreviations allowed in Scrabble?
- No. Proper names, abbreviations, prefixes and words that need a hyphen or an apostrophe are not valid. That is why IQ, OZ and RI are rejected even though everyone knows them.
- How are the points worked out?
- Each answer adds up the face value of the tiles, before any double or triple squares. Scrabble and Words With Friends use different letter values, so the same word can score differently in each game.