Q Without U: Words That Break the Rule

"Q is always followed by U" is one of the first spelling rules English speakers learn, and it's right nearly all the time. But nearly isn't always. Most of the exceptions are borrowings from Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese and other languages that were transliterated with a Q, and word-game players love them, because they let you play the 10-point Q tile when the bag has given you no U.

Why these words exist

English spelling borrowed the Q-U pairing from Latin. When English later absorbed words from languages that use a sound written as Q in their romanised forms (the Arabic qāf, the Hebrew qoph), the U didn't come along. Some words also exist as shortenings (TRANQ) or acronyms that became words (QWERTY).

The full TWL06 list

Here is every Q-without-U word in TWL06, the North American tournament list our Scrabble word finder uses by default. Scores are standard Scrabble tile values, before premium squares.

Counting every plural form, that's 32 words, which is enough to get you out of most Q jams.

The four you must memorise

If you only remember four, make them these:

1. QI: two letters, and I is the second most common vowel in the bag. You can often play it through an I already on the board.
2. QAT: uses two of the most common tiles. QATS takes an S hook.
3. QAID / QADI: the same four letters in two arrangements, both valid.
4. TRANQ: every letter except Q is a one-pointer, so it's easy to build.

Collins adds plenty more

Collins Scrabble Words, used in the UK and most international play, accepts 70 Q-without-U words in the edition our tools use. Among the short ones TWL06 doesn't allow:

• NIQAB: a veil covering the lower face.
• QIBLA: the direction Muslims face during prayer.
• QORMA: a variant spelling of korma.
• TALAQ: a form of divorce under Islamic law.
• WAQF (WAQFS): an endowment for religious or charitable purposes.

If you play internationally, switch the dictionary to Collins in the unscrambler to see them all.

What about Words With Friends?

Words With Friends was built on the ENABLE word list, which includes 21 Q-without-U words, among them QAT, QAID, QOPH, FAQIR, QANAT, TRANQ and QWERTY. QI is not one of them. Zynga maintains its own dictionary, so the in-game list has drifted from ENABLE over the years. Since the Q is worth 10 points in WWF too, check your options in our Words With Friends word finder.

When to play the Q and when to swap it

Play it fast when you can score. A Q on a triple-letter square in QI, with the I also forming a second word, can score more than 30 points. That's the dream.

Don't hold it for a perfect spot. The Q is the hardest tile to play late in the game. If you're still holding it when your opponent goes out, you lose its 10 points from your score (and in many rules they gain them). Getting rid of it for a modest score is usually better than waiting.

Keep a U or an I in mind. If you draw the Q early, a U, an I or an A on your rack makes life much easier. Balance your rack accordingly rather than dumping all your vowels.

Swap if it's hopeless. With no U, no I, no useful board letters and plenty of tiles left in the bag, exchanging the Q costs you a turn but saves you from carrying a dead tile for the rest of the game.

Q words with U worth knowing too

When you do have the U, these short words are reliable scorers in both TWL06 and Collins: QUA, SUQ, QUAI, QUAY, QUOD, QUIZ, QUOTH, AQUA, EQUAL. SUQ (a market in a Muslim country) is handy because the U and Q sit at the end, letting you hook other words above or below.

Five words to start with

The Q doesn't have to be a liability. Learn QI, QAT, QAID, QADI and TRANQ, know whether your game uses TWL, Collins or Words With Friends' own list, and you'll rarely be left holding a lonely Q with nowhere to put it.