Is EMEU a valid word?

EMEU is a variant spelling of EMU, the large flightless bird of Australia; its plural is EMEUS. It is an easy word to forget because the usual spelling is shorter. EMEU uses two E tiles and a U around one M, which helps when you are holding an awkward U. The spelling is old-fashioned, used before EMU became standard. Both spellings name the same bird. Keeping both spellings in mind helps when the E you need is already sitting on the board. Emus are the second-tallest birds in the world, after the ostrich.

Before any bonus squares: E 1 + M 3 + E 1 + U 1 = 6. On a double-word square that's 12, on a triple-word 18, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the M on a 3L square and EMEU is worth 12 before any word bonus.

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

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

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters E, M, E and U.

EMEU is another spelling of EMU, the big Australian bird.

• Vowel-heavy words

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Tileside checks words against the North American list, the NASPA Word List 2023. Your group's chosen dictionary always wins.

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