Lesson 9 of 15
Two-letter words
There are 107 two-letter words in the North American word list, and they're the most useful thing to learn. They let you lay a word right alongside another one, so each new tile makes a little word with the tile it touches, and each of those words scores. Learn QI, ZA, JO and XU first for the big tiles, and AA and OE to use up extra vowels.
You don't have to learn all 107 at once. Start with the ones that help you most.
Study all 107 two-letter wordsThe full list with short definitions. Free.Quiz yourself on themThe quiz brings back the ones you miss. Free.Want a dictionary on paper?Our books guide covers the official players dictionary for home games and other books for word players.Practice
HOUSE is on the board. Which tile could go right under the H to make a word going down?
Practice
Which of these is a real word?
Common questions
How many two-letter words are there?
107 in the NASPA Word List 2023, the North American list. The international Collins list has more.
Which two-letter word uses a Q?
QI is the only one in the North American list. It's worth knowing, because it plays a Q without a U.
Are there two-letter words with no vowels?
Yes: HM, MM and SH, and BY and MY if you count Y as a consonant. They help when the tiles you're holding (your rack) are all consonants.
Forgot what a word means? Table words
Looking for a rule? How to Play has them all
Free scoring guide for your next game
A one-page printable of tile points, bonus squares and how a turn scores. Download it right away. Then two short welcome emails (three scoring habits, then what Tileside Pro adds), and about once a month, a little more around the holidays: a word to know and a tip that scores.
Word list: NASPA Word List 2023, used under license. NASPA Word List 2023 Edition © NASPA 2023. The copy included in this app is licensed for personal use. You may not use it for any commercial purposes.