Is FAQIR a valid word?

FAQIR is an Arabic word for a Muslim religious ascetic who lives on charity, often written FAKIR in English, with FAKEER as another valid spelling. Each takes an S. FAQIR puts the Q in the middle of the word with no U after it, so the Q can reach a bonus square in the center of your play. Its other tiles, F, A, I and R, are all common enough that FAQIR is a realistic play from a real rack.

Before any bonus squares: F 4 + A 1 + Q 10 + I 1 + R 1 = 17. On a double-word square that's 34, on a triple-word 51, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the Q on a 3L square and FAQIR is worth 37 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 FAQIR and these are still words:

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters F, A, Q, I and R.

FAQIR is a Muslim holy man who lives on alms, also spelled FAKIR and FAKEER.

• Q without U

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