Q Without U: All the Valid Scrabble Words

The Q is the most-feared tile in Scrabble — 10 points, but useless if you can't find a U. The good news: the dictionary has a small but critical set of Q-without-U words. Learn them and the Q stops being a curse.

The TWL list

qi, qat, qis, qadi, qaid, qoph, faqir, qadis, qaids, qophs, sheqel, faqirs, qabala, qindar, qintar, mbaqanga, sheqalim, qabalah

SOWPODS adds

qadi, qaid, qanat, qibla, qoph, qorma, suq, tranq, waqf, mbaqangas

The five you must know

If you only have time for a handful, memorize these. They cover the vast majority of real-game situations:

• QI — vital energy in Chinese philosophy. The single most important Scrabble word ever added.
• QAT — a leafy plant chewed as a stimulant.
• QADI — a Muslim judge.
• QOPH — a Hebrew letter.
• FAQIR — variant of fakir, a mendicant ascetic.

Strategy tips

When you draw the Q, scan for an available I before anything else — QI is short, easy to play parallel, and lands the Q on a premium square more often than not. If no I is reachable, look for an A (QAT, QADI) or an O (QOPH). Only as a last resort should you waste a turn dumping the Q on the exchange pile.