All 107 Two-Letter Scrabble Words — Complete Official List

Why Two-Letter Words Matter in Scrabble

Two-letter words are the single highest-return investment in Scrabble improvement. A player who knows all 107 two-letter words sees board opportunities that are completely invisible to players who do not. The reason is parallel plays.

The Power of Parallel Plays

A parallel play places a new word alongside an existing word so that every pair of touching tiles also forms a valid word. Each two-letter combination created scores as a separate word. One well-placed parallel play using two-letter words can score 30–60 points without touching a single premium square.

Example: an existing word CARE runs horizontally on the board. You play BOATS vertically below it, positioning the B under C, O under A, A under R, T under E. This creates CB (not valid), OA (not valid) — in this specific example the parallel fails. The principle is valid when each touching pair forms a genuine two-letter word. Knowing all 107 lets you quickly assess which placements work and which do not.

Q Without U

The Q tile (10 points) is the most feared tile in Scrabble. Most English words containing Q require a following U, and U tiles are limited. QI solves this problem entirely: a valid 11-point two-letter play requiring only Q and I. Players who know QI are never stuck with Q.

High-Value Short Plays

QI (11pts), ZA (11pts), AX (9pts), EX (9pts), JO (9pts), OX (9pts), XI (9pts), and XU (9pts) are all two-letter words that score 9–11 points base. On a Triple Letter Square, QI scores 30 points from two tiles. These words use the high-value tiles Q, Z, X, J efficiently even when longer plays are unavailable.

Complete List of All 107 Two-Letter Scrabble Words

All 107 words below are valid in the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD5) and Tournament Word List (TWL06). Point values use standard Scrabble tile scores. Words marked † are also valid in Collins Scrabble Words (CSW/SOWPODS) with the same spelling.

Total: 107 words. Source: Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 5th edition (OSPD5) and Tournament Word List (TWL06). Use our Scrabble Solver to find the best play from any rack using these words.

Two-Letter Words Grouped by First Letter

This grouping aids memorisation — learning all words starting with each letter as a set is more efficient than learning them individually.

Highest Scoring Two-Letter Words

Point values below reflect base tile scores only, without premium squares. On a Triple Letter Score, QI scores 30 points from two tiles. On a Triple Word Score, ZA scores 33 points.

Two-Letter Q Words in Scrabble

The Q tile scores 10 points but requires careful rack management. In standard English spelling, Q is almost always followed by U — but only one U tile exists in a Scrabble set. QI eliminates this constraint entirely.

QI is the only valid two-letter Q word in TWL. The Collins Scrabble Words list (CSW/SOWPODS) does not add any additional two-letter Q words. For longer Q-without-U plays, see: QOPH (16pts, 4 letters), QANAT (14pts, 5 letters), QIGONG (17pts, 6 letters).

QI strategy: When you hold Q and no U is available on your rack or visible to draw, QI is your primary escape. Position QI where the Q or I lands on a Triple Letter Square for maximum value. QI with Q on a TLS scores Q(10×3) + I(1) = 31 points from a two-letter word.

Two-Letter Z Words in Scrabble

Important: ZO is valid in CSW (international Scrabble) but not in TWL (North American Scrabble). Playing ZO in a North American tournament is a challengeable mistake. Always confirm your tournament’s word list before using CSW-only words.

ZA strategy: ZA is most powerful when positioned so the Z lands on a Triple Letter Square. Z(10×3) + A(1) = 31 points. If the entire word hits a Double Word Square, ZA scores 22 points. Always check for premium square alignment before placing ZA defensively at low value.

Scrabble Strategy Guide

Hook Plays

A hook play adds one or two letters to an existing word to create a new word. Two-letter words enable hooks in both directions. Adding S to many two-letter words forms valid three-letter words: AS + H = ASH, IS + M = ISM, GO + T = GOT. Conversely, removing a letter from a three-letter word leaves a two-letter word: CASH → ASH → AS. Knowing which two-letter words accept hooks in both directions reveals plays that beginners cannot see.

Parallel Plays

The most powerful use of two-letter word knowledge is parallel plays. When you place a word alongside an existing word on the board, every pair of touching tiles must form a valid two-letter word. Each valid pair scores as a separate word on the same turn.

Verified example: NOSE is already on the board horizontally. You hold EMIT on your rack. Playing EMIT horizontally directly below NOSE creates four vertical tile pairs:

Scoring: EMIT (6pts) + NE (2pts) + OM (4pts) + SI (2pts) + ET (2pts) = 16 points total from one play. EMIT alone on an empty row would score only 6 points. Playing it parallel to NOSE earns 10 additional points from the four valid touching pairs — without touching a single premium square.

The simpler two-letter version of the same principle: AX played below HE creates HA (H+A = 5pts) and EX (E+X = 9pts). AX alone = 9pts. AX below HE = AX (9pts) + HA (5pts) + EX (9pts) = 23 points from a two-letter play.

To identify parallel plays during a game: use our Scrabble Solver in subset mode to find all words your rack can form, then manually check which placements create valid two-letter pairs with existing board tiles.

Board Control and Defensive Plays

Two-letter words allow precise board control. Playing QI or ZA to cover a dangerous Triple Word Square — where your opponent could otherwise score 50–80 points — is often worth more than their face value. A QI played defensively at 11 points that prevents a 60-point opponent play is net worth 71 points in positional value.

Endgame Strategy

In Scrabble’s endgame, the board fills up and long words become difficult to play. Two-letter words fit in tight spaces where nothing else can. Endgame specialists memorise not just the 107 words but which ones accept which hooks — because adding one letter to an existing two-letter word is often the only scoring option in a locked board position.

Endgame tiles matter: if your opponent holds Q and you know QI, you can block Q placements by covering I-adjacent squares. Conversely, if you hold Q, knowing QI prevents panic in a locked board.

The High-Value Tile Strategy

How to Memorise All 107 Words

Most players memorise all 107 two-letter words within six to eight weeks using a structured approach. The key is grouping — learning related sets together rather than the full alphabetical list at once.

Week-by-Week Plan

No C or V

A useful memory anchor: no valid TWL two-letter word begins with C or V. This means any two-letter word you see starting with C or V is not valid in North American Scrabble. CA, CE, CO, VA, VI, VO are all invalid.

Flashcard Method

Write each word on a flashcard with its definition on the back. Drill 20 cards per day, removing cards you answer correctly three times in a row. Add the next batch as you clear old ones. After six weeks of this cycle, all 107 become automatic recognition — which is the target. In a game, you need to recognise valid two-letter words in fractions of a second, not recall them slowly.

TWL vs CSW: Dictionary Differences

Two primary Scrabble dictionaries govern competitive play worldwide. Knowing which one applies to your tournament is essential before using less common two-letter words.

All 107 words in this article are valid in TWL. Players competing under CSW rules have access to additional two-letter words not listed here. When playing casually or on digital platforms, check the platform’s dictionary setting before relying on CSW-only words.

For full rack analysis using either word list, use our Scrabble Solver. For understanding the algorithm behind word finding, see How Anagram Solvers Work.

Frequently Asked Questions