Yes. UMIAQ is a valid word.
UMIAQ is valid in the North American word list used for the Scrabble board game and other crossword tile games.
UMIAQ 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 UMIAQ
UMIAQ is a large, open boat of the Inuit, traditionally made of animal skins stretched over a wooden frame and used to carry people and goods; the word list also accepts UMIAK, UMIACK and OOMIAK. Its plural is UMIAQS. UMIAQ ends in Q, and its other letters are vowels and an M, so it can rescue a rack heavy with U, I and A tiles while getting the Q down. Umiaqs were large enough to carry whole families, and they were often rowed by women.
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UMIAQ scores 16 points
Before any bonus squares: U 1 + M 3 + I 1 + A 1 + Q 10 = 16. On a double-word square that's 32, on a triple-word 48, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.
Example: UMIAQ as the first play
Later in the game, put the Q on a 3L square and UMIAQ is worth 36 before any word bonus.
Hooks: one tile makes a new word
After UMIAQ (1):
- UMIAQSform of UMIAQ: same as UMIAK
Place that one tile so it also forms a word in the other direction and both words score.
Longer words from UMIAQ
Other forms of UMIAQ (1):
- UMIAQSform of UMIAQ: same as UMIAK
Change one tile
Same letters, other words
Memory tip
UMIAQ is a large, open Inuit boat made of skins, also spelled UMIAK and OOMIAK.
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.