The Hidden Power of Short Words
Ask a beginner what separates Scrabble beginners from experts, and they'll usually say something like "knowing long words" or "being good at anagrams." Ask an expert, and they'll say: "knowing two-letter words."
The entire two-letter word list in the NWL contains 107 valid words. Memorizing all 107 is the single highest-leverage vocabulary investment you can make in competitive Scrabble. Here's why.
Why 2-Letter Words Are Strategically Critical
Parallel plays: In Scrabble, you can play a word parallel to an existing word, creating multiple new two-letter words simultaneously. A single seven-letter bingo played parallel to an existing word might create four new two-letter words at once. If all four are valid (and you know they are), you score the bingo points plus all four two-letter words. If any is invalid, you get challenged off the board.
Opening the board: Two-letter words let you "hook" onto existing words in ways that open previously inaccessible parts of the board. Adding an S to form a new two-letter word while simultaneously extending to a triple word score is a technique impossible without two-letter word knowledge.
Getting rid of difficult tiles: When you're stuck with two consonants and a useful but stuck combination, a two-letter word can clear one tile and leave a better rack. AA, MM, and other vowel-heavy or consonant-heavy situations can be resolved with the right two-letter word.
Defensive blocking: Knowing that a certain tile configuration could give your opponent a powerful two-letter play lets you block it. You can only block what you know exists.
The Full List by First Letter
A: AA, AB, AD, AE, AG, AH, AI, AL, AM, AN, AR, AS, AT, AW, AX, AY
B: BA, BE, BI, BO, BY
C: (none in NWL — C has no valid two-letter words)
D: DA, DE, DO
E: ED, EF, EH, EL, EM, EN, ER, ES, ET, EW, EX
F: FA, FE
G: GI, GO
H: HA, HE, HI, HM, HO
I: ID, IF, IN, IS, IT
J: JO
K: KA, KI
L: LA, LI, LO
M: MA, ME, MI, MM, MO, MU, MY
N: NA, NE, NO, NU
O: OD, OE, OF, OH, OI, OM, ON, OP, OR, OS, OW, OX, OY
P: PA, PE, PI
Q: QI
R: RE
S: SH, SI, SO
T: TA, TE, TI, TO
U: UH, UM, UN, UP, US, UT
V: (none)
W: WE, WO
X: XI, XU
Y: YA, YE, YO
Z: ZA
The Most Surprising Valid Words
Several two-letter words surprise even experienced players:
QI — The Chinese concept of life force or energy. Probably the most important two-letter word in competitive Scrabble because it uses Q without a U.
ZA — Informal for pizza. First appeared in competitive dictionaries around 2006. Now essential vocabulary.
XI — The 14th letter of the Greek alphabet. XI on a triple-letter square for the X scores 24 points.
XU — A monetary unit of Vietnam (1/100 of a dong). One of only three valid XU words in NWL.
AA — A type of rough, jagged lava. Hawaiian in origin. Extremely useful for dumping one of your A tiles.
KA — The spiritual double of a person in ancient Egyptian belief. Useful for the K.
EW — An exclamation of disgust. More recently accepted into competitive word lists.
OI — British exclamation. Valid in SOWPODS (international dictionary) and now in NWL.
GI — A judo or karate uniform. Valid, and useful for the G.
BI — Informal for bisexual. Accepted in NWL.
Memory Techniques
The most effective memorization method is not flashcards but active use. Play games specifically targeting two-letter word placement. When you form a new two-letter word in a game, say its meaning aloud. This semantic hook dramatically improves retention.
Group them by pattern:
Test any word's validity instantly with our Dictionary tool.