Is QABALAS a valid word?

QABALAS is the plural of QABALA, a spelling of the Jewish mystical tradition usually written kabbalah in English. With seven tiles it is a bingo, and it clears three A tiles at once, which is a gift on a vowel-heavy rack. If QABALA is already on the board, the S hook makes QABALAS and counts the Q again. Its sister spellings, QABALAH and QABALAHS, are valid too. Picture three A tiles in a row of seven, with the Q at the front leading the way.

Before any bonus squares: Q 10 + A 1 + B 3 + A 1 + L 1 + A 1 + S 1 = 18. On a double-word square that's 36, on a triple-word 54, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the Q on a 3L square and QABALAS is worth 38 before any word bonus.

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

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters Q, A, B, A, L, A and S.

QABALAS is the plural of QABALA, the mystical tradition. Say it as qa-ba-la-s: three A tiles and an S.

• Q without U

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