Yes. QI is a valid word.
QI is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
QI 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 QI
QI comes from Chinese, where it names the energy that flows through living things; KI is the Japanese form. CHI is valid too, though the list defines it as a Greek letter. With no U needed, QI is the single most useful word for the Q.
Settle the next one at the table: score your game free in Tileside →
QI scores 11 points
Before any bonus squares: Q 10 + I 1 = 11. On a double-word square that's 22, on a triple-word 33, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.
Example: QI as the first play
Later in the game, put the Q on a 3L square and QI is worth 31 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
After QI (1):
- QISform of QI: the vital force that in Chinese thought is inherent in all things
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from QI
Other forms of QI (1):
- QISform of QI: the vital force that in Chinese thought is inherent in all things
Words that start with QI:
- QIBLAsame as KIBLAH: the direction toward which Muslims face while praying
- QIBLASform of QIBLA: same as KIBLAH
- QIGONGa Chinese system of physical exercises
- QINDARsame as QINTAR: a monetary unit of Albania
- QINTARa monetary unit of Albania
- QIVIUTthe wool of a musk ox
- QIGONGSform of QIGONG: a Chinese system of physical exercises
- QINDARSform of QINDAR: same as QINTAR
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of QI and these are still words:
Same letters, other words
No other word in the list uses exactly the letters Q and I.
Add one tile: words from these letters plus one more
QI + S
- QISform of QI: the vital force that in Chinese thought is inherent in all things
Memory tip
QI is the Chinese “life force” (also spelled chi). It is the only two-letter Q word, and it never needs a U.
On these lists
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.