Yes. SPY is a valid word.
SPY is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
SPY 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 SPY
SPY is a secret agent who gathers information, and as a verb it means to watch secretly or to catch sight of something; its forms include SPIED, SPIES and SPYING. It has no A, E, I, O or U, and its P and Y make it worth 8 points. It is a word everyone knows, so it is a safe play when vowels run short.
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SPY scores 8 points
Before any bonus squares: S 1 + P 3 + Y 4 = 8. On a double-word square that's 16, on a triple-word 24, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.
Example: SPY as the first play
Later in the game, put the Y on a 3L square and SPY is worth 16 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
In front of SPY (1):
- ESPYcatch sight of
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from SPY
Other forms of SPY (3):
Words that start with SPY:
- SPYWAREcomputer software that obtains information from a user's computer without the user's knowledge or consent
- SPYGLASSa small refracting telescope
- SPYWARESform of SPYWARE: computer software that obtains information from a user's computer without the user's knowledge or consent
- SPYMASTERsomeone who directs clandestine intelligence activities
- SPYGLASSESform of SPYGLASS: a small refracting telescope
- SPYMASTERSform of SPYMASTER: someone who directs clandestine intelligence activities
Change one tile
Swap any one letter of SPY and these are still words:
Same letters, other words
No other word in the list uses exactly the letters S, P and Y.
Memory tip
SPY is a secret agent, and to watch in secret. It has no A, E, I, O or 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.
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.