All 50 words with Q and no U
Grouped by length, A to Z. Every word is valid in the current US Scrabble word list.
2 letters (1)
qi
3 letters (2)
qat, qis
4 letters (5)
cinq, qadi, qaid, qats, qoph
5 letters (11)
cinqs, faqir, niqab, qadis, qaids, qajaq, qanat, qapik, qibla, qophs, tranq
6 letters (14)
faqirs, niqaab, niqabs, qabala, qajaqs, qanats, qapiks, qiblas, qigong, qindar, qintar, qwerty, sheqel, tranqs
7 letters (10)
kamotiq, niqaabs, qabalah, qabalas, qawwali, qigongs, qindars, qintars, qwertys, sheqels
8 letters (6)
kamotiqs, mbaqanga, qabalahs, qawwalis, qindarka, sheqalim
9 letters (1)
mbaqangas
Words that start with Q without U
33 of the words begin with Q: qi, qat, qis, qadi, qaid, qats, qoph, qadis, qaids, qajaq, qanat, qapik, qibla, qophs, qabala, qajaqs, qanats, qapiks, qiblas, qigong, qindar, qintar, qwerty, qabalah, qabalas, qawwali, qigongs, qindars, qintars, qwertys, qabalahs, qawwalis, qindarka.
What they mean
Knowing a word's meaning makes it much easier to remember during a game.
- qi
- the life force in Chinese medicine (also spelled chi)
- qat
- a shrub whose leaves are chewed as a stimulant (also khat)
- qadi
- a judge in Islamic law
- qaid
- a Muslim leader or chief
- qoph
- a letter of the Hebrew alphabet
- cinq
- the number five on dice or cards
- faqir
- a Muslim holy man who lives on alms (also fakir)
- niqab
- a veil that covers the face
- qajaq
- a kayak, from Inuktitut
- qanat
- an underground water channel
- qapik
- a coin of Azerbaijan
- qibla
- the direction of Mecca, faced during prayer
- tranq
- short for tranquilizer
- qigong
- a Chinese system of breathing and movement exercises
- qindar
- a coin of Albania (also qintar)
- qwerty
- the standard keyboard layout
- sheqel
- the currency of Israel (also shekel)
- qabala
- a mystical Jewish tradition (also kabbalah)
- qawwali
- devotional Sufi music
Highest-scoring Q words without U
| Word | Points |
|---|---|
| qajaqs | 31 |
| qajaq | 30 |
| kamotiqs | 23 |
| mbaqangas | 23 |
| qawwalis | 23 |
| kamotiq | 22 |
| mbaqanga | 22 |
| qabalahs | 22 |
How to play a Q without a U
- Look for an I. QI needs just one more tile. Play it next to a bonus square, or across an existing I, for 11 points or more.
- Add an A and a T. QAT, QATS, QADI and QAID all use common letters.
- Remember the plurals. QIS, QATS, QAIDS and QOPHS are all valid, so an S can extend a Q word already on the board.
- Know when to swap. If no I or A is in reach, trading the Q early is often better than holding it to the end, when it counts against you.
More short words: see all 2 letter words and 3 letter words.
Frequently asked questions
- Are there any Q words without U?
- Yes, 50 of them in the current US Scrabble word list. The shortest are QI, QAT and QIS. Most come from Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew or Inuktitut, where Q stands for a sound with no U after it.
- What is the most useful Q word without U in Scrabble?
- QI. It has only two letters, so it fits almost anywhere on the board, and it scores 11 points before bonus squares. QAT, QADI and QAID are the next best.
- What words start with Q but have no U?
- 33 words do, including QI, QAT, QIS, QADI, QAID, QATS, QOPH, QADIS. The full list is below.
- Are QI and QAT also valid in other countries?
- Yes. QI, QAT, QADI, QAID and QOPH are valid in both the North American list and the list used in most other countries, so they are safe in any game.
- Is QWERTY a real Scrabble word?
- Yes. QWERTY, and its plural QWERTYS, are valid in the current US word list. It is one of the few everyday words with a Q and no U.