Words with Q and no U

Word game guides · 4 min read

The Q is worth 10 points in Scrabble — and the most frustrating tile in the bag when you don't have a U to go with it. The good news: there's a whole set of valid words that use a Q without a U. Learn a few of these and you'll never be stuck again.

The essential Q-without-U words

What they mean

• qi — the circulating life energy in Chinese philosophy. The single most useful Q word in any game.
• qat — a leafy shrub chewed as a stimulant (also spelled khat).
• qaid — a Muslim tribal chief or judge.
• qadi — a judge in a Muslim community.
• qoph — the 19th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
• faqir — a Muslim or Hindu holy man (variant of fakir).
• qanat — an underground irrigation channel used in the Middle East.
• tranq — a tranquilizer (informal).
• umiaq — an open Inuit boat made of skins (also umiak).
• qindar / qintar — a monetary unit of Albania.
• sheqel — the currency of Israel (also shekel).
• mbaqanga — a style of South African popular music (a brilliant Q-and-no-U bingo).

A quick strategy tip

Whenever you hold the Q, scan the board for a spare I first — qi is the easiest two-tile escape and only needs one extra letter. If there's an A and a T nearby, qat and qaid open up too. Keeping these in mind turns the Q from a liability into 10+ easy points.

Dictionary note

Some of these (like qi, qat, qadi, faqir) are valid in nearly all official word lists, while a few are only accepted in the international SOWPODS dictionary. If you're ever unsure whether a word is playable, check it in a second with unscrbl — just type your letters and see every valid word.