Learn the vowel pairs as a set
AA, AE, AI, OE, OI. Five words, one afternoon, and they will rescue more turns than any other five words in the game.
Guide
107 two-letter words
If you learn one list, learn this one. Two-letter words are how points get squeezed out of a crowded board, how an unplayable rack gets rescued, and how a four-tile play turns into five scoring words at once. There are 107 here and most people already know about sixty, so the gap is an afternoon's work rather than a project.
A note if you play to Collins, as British clubs do: it recognises around 127, so this list is the common core rather than the complete set. Why, and what is missing.
Why this list wins games
Imagine a word already on the board reading CARE, running across. You hold S, T, O and P. Playing STOP underneath it, letter for letter, does not just score STOP. It also scores CS, AT, RO and EP if each of those happens to be a word.
Two of those are not, so that particular play is illegal, and that is the point. Knowing which two-letter combinations are real is what tells you instantly whether a parallel play works. Players who know the list see these openings; players who do not simply never find them.
The vowel dump
The second use is less glamorous and comes up more often. A rack of AEIOU plus two consonants is close to unplayable as a long word, but AA, AE, AI, OE and OI let you shed two vowels for a few points and draw fresh tiles instead of passing.
52 of the 107 words here start with a vowel, which is why the list is so much more useful than its size suggests.
The complete table
Scores are the bare face value of the tiles, before any premium squares. Where a definition is missing, the word is still perfectly valid: our definitions come from a public-domain dictionary that does not cover every entry in a modern word-game list.
| Word | Scrabble | WWF | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| aa | 2 | 2 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ab | 4 | 5 | The fifth month of the Jewish year according to the ecclesiastical reckoning, the eleventh by the civil computation, coinciding nearly with |
| ad | 3 | 3 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ae | 2 | 2 | A diphthong in the Latin language; used also by the Saxon writers. It answers to the Gr. æ was generally replaced by a, the long e or ee. In derivatives from Latin words with ae, it is… |
| ag | 3 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ah | 5 | 4 | An exclamation, expressive of surprise, pity, complaint, entreaty, contempt, threatening, delight, triumph, etc., according to the manner of utterance. |
| ai | 2 | 2 | The three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) of South America. See |
| al | 2 | 3 | All. Chaucer. Although; if. See All, conj. |
| am | 4 | 5 | The first person singular of the verb be, in the indicative mode, present tense. See Be. God said unto Moses, I am that am. Exod. iii. 14. |
| an | 2 | 3 | This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less… |
| ar | 2 | 2 | Ere; before. |
| as | 2 | 2 | Denoting equality or likeness in kind, degree, or manner; like; similar to; in the same manner with or in which; in accordance with; in proportion to; to the extent or degree in which or to… |
| at | 2 | 2 | Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence, nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in… |
| aw | 5 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ax | 9 | 9 | A tool or instrument of steel, or of iron with a steel edge or blade, for felling trees, chopping and splitting wood, hewing timber, etc. It is wielded by a wooden helve or handle, so fixed… |
| ay | 5 | 4 | Ah! alas! "Ay me! I fondly dream `Had ye been there.'" Milton. Same as Aye. Yes; yea; -- a word expressing assent, or an affirmative answer to a question. It is much used in viva voce… |
| ba | 4 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| be | 4 | 5 | To exist actually, or in the world of fact; to have ex To be contents his natural desire. Pope. To be, or not to be: that is the question. |
| bi | 4 | 5 | In most branches of science bi- in composition denotes two, twice, or doubly; as, bidentate, two-toothed; biternate, doubly ternate, etc. |
| bo | 4 | 5 | An exclamation used to startle or frighten. |
| by | 7 | 7 | In the neighborhood of; near or next to; not far from; close to; along with; as, come and sit by me. By foundation or by shady rivulet He sought them both. |
| da | 3 | 3 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| de | 3 | 3 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| do | 3 | 3 | A syllable attached to the first tone of the major diatonic scale for the purpose of solmization, or solfeggio. It is the first of the seven syllables used by the Italians as manes of… |
| ed | 3 | 3 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ef | 5 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| eh | 5 | 4 | An expression of inquiry or slight surprise. |
| el | 2 | 3 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| em | 4 | 5 | The portion of a line formerly occupied by the letter m, then a square type, used as a unit by which to measure the amount of printed matter on a page; the square of the body of a type. |
| en | 2 | 3 | Half an em, that is, half of the unit of space in measuring printed matter. See |
| er | 2 | 2 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| es | 2 | 2 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| et | 2 | 2 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ew | 5 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ex | 9 | 9 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| fa | 5 | 5 | (a) A syllable applied to the fourth tone of the diatonic scale in solmization. (b) The tone |
| fe | 5 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| gi | 3 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| go | 3 | 4 | Gone. Chaucer. 1. To pass from one place to another; to be in motion; to be in a state not motionless or at rest; to proced; to advance; to make progress; -- used, in various applications,… |
| ha | 5 | 4 | An exclamation denoting surprise, joy, or grief. Both as uttered and as written, it expresses a great variety of emotions, determined by the tone or the context. When repeated, ha, ha, it… |
| he | 5 | 4 | The man or male being (or object personified to which the masculine gender is assigned), previously designated; a pronoun of the masculine gender, usually referring to a specified subject… |
| hi | 5 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| hm | 7 | 7 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ho | 5 | 4 | Who. In some Chaucer MSS. A stop; a halt; a moderation of pace. There is no ho with them. |
| id | 3 | 3 | A small fresh-water cyprinoid fish (Leuciscus idus or Idus idus) of Europe. A domesticated variety, colored like the goldfish, is called orfe in |
| if | 5 | 5 | In case that; granting, allowing, or supposing that; -- introducing a condition or supposition. Tisiphone, that oft hast heard my prayer, Assist, if OEdipus deserve thy care. Pope. If thou… |
| in | 2 | 3 | The specific signification of in is situation or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving within… |
| is | 2 | 2 | The third person singular of the substantive verb be, in the indicative mood, present tense; as, he is; he is a man. See Be. Note: In some varieties of the Northern dialect of Old English,… |
| it | 2 | 2 | The neuter pronoun of the third person, corresponding to the masculine pronoun he and the feminine she, and having the same plural (they, their of theirs, them). Note: The possessive form… |
| jo | 9 | 11 | A sweetheart; a darling. |
| ka | 6 | 6 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ki | 6 | 6 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| la | 2 | 3 | (a) A syllable applied to the sixth tone of the scale in music in solmization. (b) The tone A; -- so called among the French and |
| li | 2 | 3 | Chinese measure of distance, being a little more that one third of a mile. |
| lo | 2 | 3 | Look; see; behold; observe. " Lo, here is Christ." Matt. xxiv. |
| ma | 4 | 5 | A child's word for mother. 2. In Oriental countries, a respectful form of address given to a woman; mother. Balfour (Cyc. of India). But; -- used in cautionary phrases; as, "Vivace, ma non… |
| me | 4 | 5 | One. See Men, pron. Chaucer. The person speaking, regarded as an object; myself; a pronoun of the first person used as the objective and dative case of the pronoum I; as, he struck me; he… |
| mi | 4 | 5 | A syllable applied to the third tone of the scale of C, i. e., to E, in European solmization, but to the third tone of any scale in the American system. |
| mm | 6 | 8 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| mo | 4 | 5 | More; -- usually, more in number. An hundred thousand mo. Chaucer. Likely to find mo to commend than to imitate it. |
| mu | 4 | 6 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| my | 7 | 7 | Of or belonging to me; -- used always attributively; as, my body; my book; -- mine is used in the predicate; as, the book is mine. See |
| na | 2 | 3 | No, not. See |
| ne | 2 | 3 | Not; never. He never yet no villany ne said. Chaucer. Note: Ne was formerly used as the universal adverb of negation, and survives in certain compounds, as never (= ne ever) and none (= ne… |
| no | 2 | 3 | Not any; not one; none. Let there be no strife ... between me and thee. Gen. xiii. |
| nu | 2 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| od | 3 | 3 | An alleged force or natural power, supposed, by Reichenbach and others, to produce the phenomena of mesmerism, and to be developed by various agencies, as by magnets, heat, light, chemical… |
| oe | 2 | 2 | A diphthong, employed in the Latin language, and thence in the English language, as the representative of the Greek diphthong oe. In many words in common use, e alone stands instead of oe.… |
| of | 5 | 5 | In a general sense, from, or out from; proceeding from; belonging to; relating to; concerning; -- used in a variety of applications; as: |
| oh | 5 | 4 | An exclamation expressing various emotions, according to the tone and manner, especially surprise, pain, sorrow, anxiety, or a wish. See the Note under |
| oi | 2 | 2 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ok | 6 | 6 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| om | 4 | 5 | A mystic syllable or ejaculation used by Hindus and Buddhists in religious rites, -- orig. among the Hindus an exclamation of assent, like Amen, then an invocation, and later a symbol of… |
| on | 2 | 3 | The general signification of on is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath; as: -- |
| op | 4 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| or | 2 | 2 | A particle that marks an alternative; as, you may read or may write, -- that is, you may do one of the things at your pleasure, but not both. It corresponds to either. You may ride either… |
| os | 2 | 2 | A bone. A mouth; an opening; an entrance. One of the ridges of sand or gravel found in Sweden, etc., supposed by some to be of marine origin, but probably formed by subglacial waters. The… |
| ow | 5 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ox | 9 | 9 | The male of bovine quadrupeds, especially the domestic animal when castrated and grown to its full size, or nearly so. The word is also applied, as a general name, to any species of bovine… |
| oy | 5 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| pa | 4 | 5 | A shortened form of |
| pe | 4 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| pi | 4 | 5 | A mass of type confusedly mixed or unsorted. To put into a mixed and disordered condition, as type; to mix and disarrange the type of; as, to pi a form. |
| po | 4 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| qi | 11 | 11 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| re | 2 | 2 | A syllable applied in solmization to the second tone of the diatonic scale of C; in the American system, to the second tone of any diatonic scale. |
| sh | 5 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| si | 2 | 2 | A syllable applied, in solmization, to the note B; more recently, to the seventh tone of any major diatonic scale. It was added to Guido's scale by Le Maire about the end of the 17th… |
| so | 2 | 2 | In that manner or degree; as, indicated (in any way), or as implied, or as supposed to be known. Why is his chariot so long in coming Judges v. |
| ta | 2 | 2 | To take. Cursor Mundi. Used by Chaucer to represent a peculiarity of the Northern dialect. |
| te | 2 | 2 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ti | 2 | 2 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| to | 2 | 2 | The preposition to primarily indicates approach and arrival, motion made in the direction of a place or thing and attaining it, access; and also, motion or tendency without arrival;… |
| uh | 5 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| um | 4 | 6 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| un | 2 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| up | 4 | 6 | Aloft; on high; in a direction contrary to that of gravity; toward or in a higher place or position; above; -- the opposite of Ant: down. But up or down, By center or eccentric, hard to… |
| us | 2 | 3 | The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; -- the objective case of we. See We. "Tell us a tale." Chaucer. Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11. |
| ut | 2 | 3 | The first note in Guido's musical scale, now usually superseded by do. See |
| we | 5 | 5 | The plural nominative case of the pronoun of the first person; the word with which a person in speaking or writing denotes a number or company of which he is one, as the subject of an… |
| wo | 5 | 5 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| xi | 9 | 9 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| xu | 9 | 10 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ya | 5 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| ye | 5 | 4 | An old method of printing the article the (AS. þe), the "y" being used in place of the Anglo-Saxon thorn. It is sometimes incorrectly pronounced ye. See The, and Thorn, n. |
| yo | 5 | 4 | Valid in both games; no public-domain entry |
| za | 11 | 11 | An old solfeggio name for B flat; the seventh harmonic, as heard in the or æolian string; -- so called by Tartini. It was long considered a false, but is the true note of the chord of the… |
How to actually memorise it
Then the odd consonants
HM, MM, SH, XU, QI, ZA. These are the ones that feel wrong and score well. QI alone is eleven points before any premium square.
Test yourself the hard way
Do not read the list. Write out all 107 from memory and check what you missed. The gaps are what you need, and reading past them teaches nothing.
Questions
Why 107 and not the 127 my club uses?
Because the two lists differ. Collins, which is what British clubs and tournaments play, recognises around 127 two-letter words. The list on this page has 107: the 96 in the public-domain ENABLE list, plus the eleven added in 2014, namely QI, ZA, DA, EW, FE, GI, KI, OI, OK, PO and TE.
The roughly twenty we are missing are the distinctively British and dialect entries that Collins accepts and the North American list does not. If you play at a club you will already know several of them, and you should keep playing them. Why we cannot ship Collins itself.
Which ones are worth learning first?
The ones starting with a vowel, because those are the ones that let you unload awkward vowels and play parallel to an existing word. 52 of the 107 begin with a vowel.
After that, learn QI and ZA. They turn the two ten-point tiles from a liability into a play, and a Q you cannot use costs you both the points and the turn.
Why do so many of them look made up?
Because they come from corners of English that everyday speech does not visit. Some are musical notation, like FA and TI. Some are Hebrew letters, like PE. Some are units or currency, like XU. AE is Scots for one, and OE is a Faroese whirlwind.
They are all in the dictionary the games use, which is the only test that matters at the board. 64 of the 107 have a definition available here, and the rest are valid without one.
How do two-letter words actually score points?
By playing parallel. Lay a word alongside one already on the board so that each of your letters also forms a two-letter word with the letter above or below it. Every one of those little words scores, so a four-tile play can create five scoring words at once.
This is the single biggest gap between casual and club players, and it rests entirely on knowing this list.
Is AA really a word?
It is, and it is one of the most useful. AA is a rough, cindery kind of lava, from Hawaiian. Along with AE, AI, OE and OI it is how experienced players survive a rack full of vowels.
Next: the Q words that need no U, or take a rack to the Scrabble word finder.