Yes. RAIA is a valid word.
RAIA is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
RAIA 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 RAIA
RAIA is another spelling of RAYAH, a word for a non-Muslim subject of the Ottoman Empire who paid a special tax; its plural is RAIAS. RAIA clears two A tiles and an I with one R. It is a history word that few people know, which makes it a satisfying challenge to win.
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RAIA scores 4 points
Before any bonus squares: R 1 + A 1 + I 1 + A 1 = 4. On a double-word square that's 8, on a triple-word 12, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.
Example: RAIA as the first play
Later in the game, put the R on a 3L square and RAIA is worth 6 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
After RAIA (1):
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from RAIA
Other forms of RAIA (1):
Change one tile
Same letters, other words
These use exactly the letters of RAIA:
- ARIAan elaborate melody for a single voice
Add one tile: words from these letters plus one more
RAIA + C
- ACARIform of ACARUS: any of several mites of the order Acarina
RAIA + G
RAIA + L
RAIA + M
- MARIAform of MARE: female equine animal
RAIA + N
- NAIRAthe basic unit of money in Nigeria
RAIA + T
- ATRIAform of ATRIUM: any chamber that is connected to other chambers or passageways (especially one of the two upper chambers of the heart)
- RAITAan Indian side dish of yogurt and chopped cucumbers and spices
- RIATAa long noosed rope used to catch animals
- TIARAa jeweled headdress worn by women on formal occasions
RAIA + V
Memory tip
RAIA was a non-Muslim subject of the Ottoman Empire, also spelled RAYAH.
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.
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.