Is XU a valid word?

The plural of XU is also XU, with no S. It pairs with XI as the two words where the X comes first, a useful way to reach a bonus square from an I or a U. Vietnam no longer uses the coin in daily life, but the word is still a favorite of word lovers. It is one of only two two-letter words that start with X, along with XI, so it is worth knowing cold.

Before any bonus squares: X 8 + U 1 = 9. On a double-word square that's 18, on a triple-word 27, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the X on a 3L square and XU is worth 25 before any word bonus.

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

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters X and U.

XU is a Vietnamese coin, one hundredth of a dong; think “ten XU for a snack”. Its plural is also XU.

• Two-letter words
• J, Q, X and Z two-letter words

• XI

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