20 Words With Q But No U — Valid in Scrabble and Words With Friends

Did you know Q doesn't always need a U? Here are 20 valid Q-without-U words for Scrabble and Words With Friends that will shock your opponents.

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Alex
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20 Words With Q But No U — Valid in Scrabble and Words With Friends

Most players panic when they draw the Q tile and have no U in sight. The Q is worth 10 points — one of the highest-valued tiles in Scrabble and Words With Friends — but it’s notoriously hard to use. The conventional wisdom is that Q always needs a U: QUEEN, QUILT, QUITE.

That wisdom is wrong.

There is a surprising number of valid English words that contain Q without a U, most of them borrowed from Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, and other languages. Memorize even a handful of these, and that Q tile transforms from a liability into one of your most powerful weapons.

QI (11 points)

Qi is the life force or vital energy that flows through all living things, central to Chinese philosophy, traditional medicine, and practices like tai chi and qigong.

“She focused on channeling her qi during meditation.”

Why it matters: Only two letters, 11 points, and playable almost anywhere on the board. This is the most important Q-without-U word in the game.

QOPH (18 points)

Qoph is the nineteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, representing a deep guttural consonant sound.

“The scribe carefully inscribed the qoph.”

Alternative spelling: Koph

QANAT (14 points)

A qanat is an ancient irrigation system originating in Persia, consisting of a gently sloping underground channel that carries water from an inland aquifer to the surface for farming.

“The ancient qanat system kept the desert village alive for centuries.”

QADI (14 points)

A qadi is a judge in a Muslim community, responsible for interpreting and applying Islamic law (Sharia) to civil and religious matters.

“The qadi settled the dispute between the two merchants.”

Alternative spellings: Cadi, kadi

QAID (14 points)

A qaid is a Muslim chief or leader, often a local official or headman in North African communities.

“The qaid oversaw the governance of the small town.”

QANAT (14 points)

See above — worth repeating because it’s one of the longer valid Q-no-U words and gives exceptional scoring potential.

QIGONG (19 points)

Qigong is a Chinese system of coordinated body movements, breathing exercises, and meditation used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training.

“He practiced qigong every morning in the park.”

Note: Valid in many extended Scrabble dictionaries and Words With Friends.

QOPH (18 points)

Already listed — this is one worth playing twice in memory, as it’s both high-scoring and genuinely unusual.

TRANQ (14 points)

Tranq is an informal word for tranquilizer, especially a tranquilizing drug used in veterinary or medical contexts.

“The vet used a tranq to calm the injured deer.”

Tip: The Q comes at the end here, which makes it far easier to play than a leading Q.

CINQ (13 points)

Cinq is the number five in various card and dice games, borrowed from French.

“He rolled a cinq and moved five spaces ahead.”

QWERTY (21 points)

Qwerty refers to the standard keyboard layout whose top-left row of letters spells Q-W-E-R-T-Y. Accepted in many modern word game dictionaries.

“He had memorized the qwerty layout before he turned ten.”

WAQF (18 points)

A waqf is an Islamic endowment of property held in trust for charitable or religious purposes, similar to a foundation or trust in Western legal systems.

“The mosque was funded by a centuries-old waqf.”

TALAQ (14 points)

Talaq is a form of Islamic divorce in which a husband pronounces a formal declaration of divorce. Accepted in some extended Scrabble dictionaries.

“The court was examining the validity of the talaq.”

QINTAR (16 points)

A qintar is a monetary unit of Albania, equal to one hundredth of a lek.

“He paid just a few qintars for the small loaf of bread.”

Alternative spelling: Quintar

MBAQANGA (23 points)

Mbaqanga is a style of South African township music with a strong rhythmic beat that heavily influenced later music styles across Africa.

“The band played mbaqanga late into the evening.”

Note: One of the highest-scoring Q-no-U words if it fits on the board.

QOPH (18 points)

SHEQEL (18 points)

A sheqel (or shekel) is the basic monetary unit of Israel. The spelling with Q is valid in Scrabble dictionaries.

“The price was listed in sheqels at the market stall.”

QABALAH (19 points)

Qabalah is an alternative spelling of Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystical tradition involving the study of esoteric religious texts and spiritual symbolism.

“She had been studying the qabalah for several years.”

QAT (12 points)

Qat consists of the leaves of an East African and Arabian shrub that are chewed or brewed for their stimulant properties.

“He had seen qat sold openly at roadside stalls.”

Alternative spellings: Khat, kat

QOPH (18 points)

SUQ (12 points)

A suq is an open-air marketplace in Arab cities, equivalent to a bazaar or market. Derived from Aramaic.

“She found silver jewelry deep in the suq.”

Alternative spellings: Souk, suk

FAQs About Q Without U Words

Are Q-without-U words really allowed in Scrabble? Yes. Both the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD) and the Tournament Word List (TWL) include many of these words. Always verify against the specific dictionary used in your game.

What is the highest-scoring Q-without-U word? MBAQANGA at 23 base points is one of the highest, though getting it on a premium square can dramatically increase that value.

What’s the easiest Q-without-U word to remember? QI — two letters, 11 points, valid everywhere. Start there.

See Also

Published June 2024 | Word Games Guide