Yes. IS is a valid word.
IS is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
IS 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 IS
IS is a form of BE, the most common verb in English. It is a quiet way to play an S, though an S is usually worth saving for a hook that scores more.
Settle the next one at the table: score your game free in Tileside →
IS scores 2 points
Before any bonus squares: I 1 + S 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: IS as the first play
Later in the game, put the I on a 3L square and IS is worth 4 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
In front of IS (16):
- AISform of AI: a sloth that has three long claws on each forefoot and each hindfoot
- BIS
- CIS
- DIS
- GIS
- HIS
- KISform of KI: the circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things
- LISform of LI: Chinese distance measure
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- MISform of MI: a former British unit of length equivalent to 6,080 feet (1,853.184 meters)
- PISform of PI: the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle
- QISform of QI: the vital force that in Chinese thought is inherent in all things
- SISform of SI: the syllable naming the seventh (subtonic) note of any musical scale in solmization
- TISform of TI: shrub with terminal tufts of elongated leaves used locally for thatching and clothing
- VIS
- WIS
- XISform of XI: a Greek letter
After IS (1):
- ISMa belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from IS
Words that start with IS:
Change one tile
Same letters, other words
Memory tip
IS is a form of BE, as in “it is”. Put an H, S or T in front for HIS, SIS or TIS.
On these lists
Other two-letter words starting with I
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.