Word lists › EM

Is EM a valid word?

E1
M3

Yes. EM is a valid word.

EM is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.

EM 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.

Meaning

A typographic unit.

More on Wiktionary

About EM

Printers measured type by the width of the letter M, which gave us the em and the em dash. EM is also the letter M spelled out, one of the letter-name words in the list.

Settle the next one at the table: score your game free in Tileside →

EM scores 4 points

Before any bonus squares: E 1 + M 3 = 4. On a double-word square that's 8, on a triple-word 12, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

E1
M3

Example: EM as the first play

EM through the ★: E 1 + M 3 = 4, and the ★ doubles the first word: 8 points. New tiles are outlined.

Later in the game, put the M on a 3L square and EM is worth 10 before any word bonus.

Hooks: one tile makes a new word

In front of EM (4):

  • GEMart highly prized for its beauty or perfection
  • HEMthe edge of a piece of cloth
  • MEMthe 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
  • REM(roentgen equivalent man) the dosage of ionizing radiation that will cause the same amount of injury to human tissue as 1 roentgen of X-rays

After EM (4):

  • EME
  • EMO
  • EMSform of EM: a quad with a square body
  • EMUany of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism

Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.

Longer words from EM

Other forms of EM (1):

  • EMSform of EM: a quad with a square body

Words that start with EM:

  • EMES
  • EMEUsame as EMU: a bird of species Dromaius novaehollandiae
  • EMIC
  • EMIRan independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia)
  • EMITexpel (gases or odors)
  • EMMY
  • EMOS
  • EMUSform of EMU: any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism
Show 4 more words
  • EMYD
  • EMAIL(computer science) a system of world-wide electronic communication in which a computer user can compose a message at one terminal that…
  • EMBAR
  • EMBAY

Change one tile

Swap any one letter of EM and these are still words:

  • AMa form of BE, as in “I am”
  • HMhmm, used to show you're thinking
  • MMused to express assent or satisfaction
  • OMa mantra used in contemplation of ultimate reality
  • UMto hesitate or pause in speaking
  • EDeducation
  • EFthe letter F
  • EHused to express doubt or surprise
Show 4 more words
  • ELan elevated railroad or train
  • ENhalf of an em
  • ERused to express hesitation
  • ESthe letter S

Same letters, other words

These use exactly the letters of EM:

  • MEthe speaker, as in “give it to me”; also, an ego
Add one tile: words from these letters plus one more

EM + A

EM + D

EM + E

EM + G

  • GEMart highly prized for its beauty or perfection
  • MEGthe number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

EM + H

  • HEMthe edge of a piece of cloth
  • MEH

EM + L

  • ELMany of various trees of the genus Ulmus
  • MEL

EM + M

  • MEMthe 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet

EM + N

  • MENform of MAN: an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

EM + O

Memory tip

EM is the letter M spelled out, and a printer's measure of width. Pair it with ME, its mirror image.

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.