Yes. LA is a valid word.
LA is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
LA 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 LA
LA is the sixth note of the scale. It also turns into many three-letter words with one more tile: LAB, LAC, LAD, LAG, LAM, LAP, LAR, LAS, LAT, LAV, LAW, LAX and LAY.
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LA scores 2 points
Before any bonus squares: L 1 + A 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: LA as the first play
Later in the game, put the L on a 3L square and LA is worth 4 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
In front of LA (1):
- ALAa flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism
After LA (14):
- LABa workplace for the conduct of scientific research
- LACresinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects
- LADa boy or man
- LAGhang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.
- LAHthe syllable naming the sixth (submediant) note of a major or minor scale in solmization
- LAMflee
- LAPthe upper side of the thighs of a seated person
- LAR
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- LASform of LA: the syllable naming the sixth (submediant) note of a major or minor scale in solmization
- LATa broad flat muscle on either side of the back
- LAVa room or building equipped with one or more toilets
- LAWthe collection of rules imposed by authority
- LAXa vowel articulated with relatively relaxed muscles; not strict or stringent
- LAYform of LIE: be located or situated somewhere
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from LA
Other forms of LA (1):
- LASform of LA: the syllable naming the sixth (submediant) note of a major or minor scale in solmization
Words that start with LA:
- LABSform of LAB: a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
- LACEspin, wind, or twist together
- LACKthe state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
- LACSform of LAC: resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects
- LACYmade of or resembling lace
- LADEremove with or as if with a ladle
- LADSform of LAD: a boy or man
- LADYa polite name for any woman
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of LA and these are still words:
Same letters, other words
Memory tip
LA is the sixth note of the scale (do, re, mi, fa, so, la). Reverse it for AL.
On these lists
Other two-letter words starting with L
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.