Yes. EL is a valid word.
EL is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
EL 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 EL
The elevated railway in Chicago is called the L, and New Yorkers once rode the Third Avenue El. EL is also the name of the letter L, so it belongs to the letter-name family with AR, EF, EM, EN, ES and EX.
Settle the next one at the table: score your game free in Tileside →
EL scores 2 points
Before any bonus squares: E 1 + L 1 = 2. On a double-word square that's 4, on a triple-word 6, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.
Example: EL as the first play
Later in the game, put the E on a 3L square and EL is worth 4 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
In front of EL (8):
After EL (6):
- ELDa late time of life
- ELF(folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
- ELKlarge northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male
- ELLan extension at the end and at right angles to the main building
- ELMany of various trees of the genus Ulmus
- ELSform of EL: a railway that is powered by electricity and that runs on a track that is raised above the street level
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from EL
Other forms of EL (1):
- ELSform of EL: a railway that is powered by electricity and that runs on a track that is raised above the street level
Words that start with EL:
- ELANa feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
- ELDSform of ELD: a late time of life
- ELHI
- ELKSform of ELK: large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male
- ELLSform of ELL: an extension at the end and at right angles to the main building
- ELMSform of ELM: any of various trees of the genus Ulmus
- ELMY
- ELSE
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of EL and these are still words:
Same letters, other words
No other word in the list uses exactly the letters E and L.
Add one tile: words from these letters plus one more
EL + A
EL + B
EL + C
EL + F
- ELF(folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
Memory tip
EL is an elevated railway, like Chicago's L train, and also the letter L spelled out. ELF, ELK, ELL and ELM all hook off the end.
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.