Yes. EF is a valid word.
EF is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
EF is in the NASPA Word List 2023 (NWL2023), the North American list that Tileside uses for challenges and the one used in club and tournament play.
About EF
The letter names are a handy family: AR, EF, EL, EM, EN, ES and EX. EF is one of the few two-letter homes for the F, along with FA, FE, IF and OF.
Settle the next one at the table: score your game free in Tileside →
EF scores 5 points
Before any bonus squares: E 1 + F 4 = 5. On a double-word square that's 10, on a triple-word 15, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.
Example: EF as the first play
Later in the game, put the F on a 3L square and EF is worth 13 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
In front of EF (3):
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from EF
Other forms of EF (1):
Words that start with EF:
- EFFSform of EFF: have sexual intercourse with
- EFTSform of EFT: a newt in its terrestrial stage of development
- EFFACEremove completely from recognition or memory
- EFFECTa phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
- EFFETEaffected, overrefined, and effeminate
- EFFIGYa representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
- EFFLUXthe process of flowing out
- EFFORTearnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of EF and these are still words:
Same letters, other words
These use exactly the letters of EF:
- FEa Hebrew letter
Add one tile: words from these letters plus one more
EF + E
- FEEa fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services
EF + F
- EFFhave sexual intercourse with
EF + H
EF + I
EF + K
EF + L
- ELF(folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
EF + N
- FEN100 fen equal 1 yuan in China
EF + O
- FOEan armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
Memory tip
EF is the name of the letter F, spelled out. Letter names you can play: AR, EF, EL, EM, EN, ES and EX.
On these lists
Other two-letter words starting with E
Check words at the table, free
Tileside keeps score, checks words like this one during a challenge, tracks the tiles left in the bag and times turns. It runs in your phone's browser with no account and works offline.
Tileside checks words against the North American list, the NASPA Word List 2023. Your group's chosen dictionary always wins. Playing the international (Collins) list? Turn on its 20 extra two-letter words in Setup.
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.
Works with the Scrabble board game, played at the table. Tileside is an independent product, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Scrabble.