Q words without U

The Q is worth 10 points and almost always wants a U. These 91 words do not need one.

Highlighted words are common; grey words are rarer but in the dictionary. Lists use an open-source English word list, not the official Scrabble lists, so a few entries may not be valid in a given game.

Q without U, by length

2 letters

1
qi

3 letters

4
qatqinqissuq

4 letters

8
fiqhqadiqaidqatsqinsqophsuqswaqf

5 letters

15
burqafaqirfiqhsguqinniqabqadisqaidsqanatqiblaqophsqormatalaqtranqumiaqwaqfs

6 letters

21
buqshaburqasfaqirsguqinsniqabsqabalaqanatsqasidaqawwalqiblasqigongqindarqintarqiviutqormasqwertysheqeltalaqstranqsumiaqsyaqona

7 letters

16
buqshasinqilabqabalahqabalasqasidasqawwaliqawwalsqigongsqindarsqintarsqiviutsqwertyssheqelstsaddiqtzaddiqyaqonas

8 letters

15
inqilabsmbaqangamuqaddamqabalahsqabalismqabalistqaimaqamqalamdanqawwalisqindarkaqintarkaqwertiessheqalimtsaddiqstzaddiqs

9 letters

9
mbaqangasmuqaddamsqabalismsqabalistsqaimaqamsqalamdansqinghaosutsaddiqimtzaddiqim

10 letters

2
qabalisticqinghaosus

The ones to actually remember

Most of this list is loanwords you will never draw. The ones that come up in real games: qi and qis, qat and qats, qaid, qoph, faqir, tranq, niqab, burqa, qabala, sheqel, qanat, qindar, qintar, mbaqanga. Learn the first six and the Q stops being a liability.

Where the words come from

Q without U words are mostly transliterations: Arabic (qat, qadi, niqab, burqa, faqir), Hebrew (qoph, sheqel, qabala), Chinese (qi), Albanian (qindar, qintar) and Persian (qanat). Dictionaries differ on which ones they admit, which is why counts vary between word lists.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the shortest Q word without U?

QI, the Chinese word for life force. It is the single most useful Q word in Scrabble because it fits almost anywhere.

Is QI valid in Words With Friends?

Yes. QI, QAT, QAID, QOPH and FAQIR are accepted in Words With Friends and in both official Scrabble lists.

Can I play Q alone as a word?

No. There is no one-letter word in any Scrabble dictionary. QI is the shortest play.