Yes. HO is a valid word.
HO is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
HO 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 HO
Sailors shout “land ho!” when they first sight the shore. HO is also one of many short words with the 4-point H, and it hooks into HOB, HOD, HOE, HOG, HON, HOP, HOT, HOW and HOY.
Settle the next one at the table: score your game free in Tileside →
HO scores 5 points
Before any bonus squares: H 4 + O 1 = 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: HO as the first play
Later in the game, put the H on a 3L square and HO is worth 13 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
In front of HO (7):
After HO (11):
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from HO
Words that start with HO:
- HOARice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
- HOAXsomething intended to deceive
- HOBOa vagrant
- HOBSform of HOB: (folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings
- HOCKleave as a guarantee in return for money
- HODSform of HOD: an open box attached to a long pole handle
- HOEDform of HOE: a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
- HOER
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of HO and these are still words:
Same letters, other words
These use exactly the letters of HO:
- OHto exclaim in surprise, pain, or desire
Add one tile: words from these letters plus one more
HO + A
- HAO10 hao equal 1 dong in Vietnam
HO + B
- HOB(folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings
HO + C
HO + D
HO + E
- HOEa tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
HO + F
HO + G
- HOGtake greedily
HO + M
HO + N
Memory tip
HO is a call for attention, as in “land ho!”. Reverse it for OH.
On these lists
Other two-letter words starting with H
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.