50+ Short Q-Words You Must Know to Win at Scrabble & WWF

When you start playing Scrabble or Words With Friends, one of the smartest moves is to learn short Q-words first—whether you're playing casually or aiming to compete.

The Q tile is one of the most valuable in both games, but it’s also one of the trickiest to play. Fortunately, you don’t always need a U to use it effectively. The key is mastering short, high-impact Q-words (2 to 5 letters long)—a small but essential list that can dramatically boost your score.

Why does this matter?

Q-words unlock high-scoring plays. With only one Q tile, in both Scrabble and Words With Friends, and a hefty 10 points, it’s a powerhouse letter that rewards strategic placement.
They fit into tight spaces. Many of these words are just 2 or 3 letters long, making them perfect for parallel plays and stacking bonus points.
They help you stay in control. Knowing the short Q without U words prevents wasted turns when you’re stuck with a Q and no U.
Most of them work with other vowels (I or A). Also, some Q-words can be easily extended or combined with S, helping you maximize premium squares; that’s why mastering them is one of the fastest ways to improve your word game skills.

Before we jump into the list, let’s break down the numbers. We’ve curated a list of 54 short Q-words (2 to 5 letters long) that are essential for Scrabble and Words With Friends. This selection includes nearly all the playable 2- to 4-letter Q-words and only the most useful 5-letter ones.

One key challenge with Q is its frequent pairing with U, and that’s reflected in the numbers: only 8 of these 54 words don’t require a U, but they’re crucial to know when you’re stuck without one. Additionally, 4 of these words are plurals (ending in S), and many longer Q-words can also take an S to form even more playable words. Some of these Q-words can even gain an S at the beginning, making them even more versatile for high-scoring plays.

All the words on this list are accepted in both the Scrabble dictionary and the Words With Friends dictionary, with one small exception: CINQ is playable in NWL Scrabble (North America) but not in Collins Scrabble (international rules).

The High-Impact Short Q-Words You Must Memorize

Now that you know why short Q-words are so valuable, it's time to learn them! Below, you'll find a curated list of 54 essential Q-words broken down by length.

The shortest Q-words (2-3 letters) are the most flexible and frequently played.
4-letter Q-words offer great scoring potential and can be extended into longer plays.
The most common 5-letter Q-words round out your vocabulary with strategic, high-value options.

Essential 2- and 3-Letter Q-Words for Scrabble & WWF

Word	Definition & Example	NWL Score	CSW Score	WWF Score	Length
QI	Vital energy in Chinese philosophy. Example: “Meditation helps balance your qi.”	11	11	11	2
QAT	A plant whose leaves are chewed as a stimulant. Example: “Qat is commonly used in parts of the Middle East and Africa.”	12	12	12	3
QIS	Plural of QI, meaning multiple life energies. Example: “Different practices can affect your qis in various ways.”	12	12	12	3
QUA	As, in the capacity of. Example: “He spoke qua expert, not as a friend.”	12	12	13	3
SUQ	A marketplace or bazaar. Example: “They bought spices at the suq.”	12	12	13	3

📄 Download the list of 2 and 3-letter Qwords

QI – The only 2-letter playable Q-word

The only 2-letter Q-word, QI, refers to vital energy in Chinese philosophy. Its score remains consistent across Scrabble and Words With Friends—11 points when no bonuses apply.
Memorization Tip: Think of QI as the energy that flows through you when you find the perfect play.

3-Letter Q-Words

There are four 3-letter Q-words:

QAT – A stimulant plant commonly chewed in the Middle East and Africa. (Scrabble: 12, WWF: 12)
Tip: Imagine someone chatting while chewing qat—it sounds similar!
QIS – The plural of QI, meaning multiple life energies. (Scrabble: 12, WWF: 12)
Tip: Just add an “S” to QI to make it plural—easy points!
QUA – Means "as" or "in the capacity of." (Scrabble: 12, WWF: 13)
Tip: Think of qua as "qualified as" something—it helps in legal or academic language.
SUQ – A marketplace or bazaar. (Scrabble: 12, WWF: 13)
Tip: Flip it around— SUQ sounds like souk, another word for a Middle Eastern market.

Words containing U ( QUA and SUQ) score slightly higher in Words With Friends (13 instead of 12).

Essential 4-Letter Q-Words for Scrabble & WWF

Word	Definition & Example	NWL Score	CSW Score	WWF Score	Length
AQUA	A water-based solution or liquid. Example: "The artist used aqua to paint the ocean scene."	13	13	14	4
CINQ	A French word for five, used in some word games. Example: "In French, cinq is the word for five."	15	N/A	17	4
QADI	A judge in Islamic law. Example: "The qadi ruled on the dispute in the local court."	14	14	14	4
QAID	A Muslim leader or chief. Example: "The qaids of the region met to discuss governance."	14	14	14	4
QATS	Plural of qat, the stimulant plant. Example: "Qats are often sold in marketplaces in the Middle East."	13	13	13	4
QOPH	The 19th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Example: "The word qoph appears in the study of ancient Hebrew texts."	18	18	18	4
QUAD	A four-sided courtyard or area. Example: "The university’s quad is a popular place for students to relax."	14	14	15	4
QUAG	A swamp or marsh. Example: "The hikers were careful not to get stuck in the quag."	14	14	15	4
QUAI	A dock or wharf along a river or harbor. Example: "The ship was moored at the quai, ready for unloading."	13	13	14	4
QUAY	A dock or landing place for ships. Example: "The cargo was unloaded from the vessel at the quay."	16	16	16	4
QUEY	A young female cow. Example: "The quey was kept separate from the rest of the herd."	16	16	16	4
QUID	A portion of chewing tobacco or a unit of currency in the UK. Example: "He put a quid of tobacco in his mouth."	14	14	15	4
QUIN	A prefix meaning five, or short for quinine, a medication. Example: "Quin was used in the treatment of malaria in earlier times."	13	13	15	4
QUIP	A witty remark or comment. Example: "Her quip about the weather made everyone laugh."	15	15	17	4
QUIT	To stop or leave. Example: "He decided to quit the game early after losing."	13	13	14	4
QUIZ	A test of knowledge or skill. Example: "We had a pop quiz in class today."	22	22	23	4
QUOD	Slang for prison. Example: "He spent several years in the quod before being released."	14	14	15	4
SUQS	Plural of suq, a market or bazaar. Example: "The suqs in Morocco are full of colorful spices and textiles."	13	13	14	4

📄 Download the list of 4-letter Qwords

With just 18 words, four-letter Q-words are pretty easy to learn and can be really useful in Scrabble and Words With Friends. However, note that CINQ is playable in NWL Scrabble and Words With Friends but not in Collins/International Scrabble.

High-Scoring Standouts

The most valuable words include QUIZ (22), QOPH (18), QUAY (16), and QUEY (16)—all featuring high-value letters like Z, P, and Y alongside Q.

Scoring Patterns & Memorization Tips

Scores in Scrabble and WWF are mostly aligned, except for words with U, since it’s worth one extra point in WWF.

QUIZ (22) – Easy to recall as it’s a common test format.
QOPH (18) – A Hebrew letter; think of "Q-oph" as a quirky alphabet character.
QUAY (16) – A dock; visualize "quay" as a pier by the sea.
QUEY (16) – A young cow; link it to "qu-ey" sounding like quaint farm life.

Essential 5-Letter Q-Words for Scrabble & WWF

Word	Definition & Example	NWL Score	CSW Score	WWF Score	Length
QUACK	The sound made by a duck or a fraudulent doctor. Example: “The doctor was exposed as a quack after his false treatments were discovered.”	20	20	22	5
QUICK	Moving fast or taking little time. Example: “He made a quick decision to leave the party early.”	20	20	22	5
QUAKE	To shake or tremble, usually due to an earthquake. Example: “The ground began to quake during the earthquake.”	18	18	19	5
QUARK	A fundamental particle in physics or a type of cheese. Example: “Quarks make up protons and neutrons in atomic particles” / “Quark is often used in desserts in Europe.”	18	18	19	5
QUIRK	A peculiar or unusual feature or behavior. Example: “His quirk of humming while working always made the office lively.”	18	18	19	5
QUASH	To reject or stop something, especially by legal means. Example: “The judge decided to quash the motion due to insufficient evidence.”	17	17	17	5
QUERY	A question or inquiry. Example: “She sent an email to query the status of her application.”	17	17	17	5
QUOTH	A term used to quote, especially in older or poetic language. Example: “Quoth the raven, ‘Nevermore.’”	17	17	17	5
EQUIP	To provide with the necessary tools or equipment. Example: “The company will equip the team with the latest technology.”	16	16	18	5
PIQUE	To stimulate or excite interest or curiosity. Example: “The new movie trailer piqued my curiosity.”	16	16	18	5
QUALM	A feeling of unease or doubt. Example: “She had no qualms about making the decision.”	16	16	19	5
SQUIB	A small, weak explosive or a short, witty comment. Example: “The squib went off with a small pop” / “His squib in the newspaper was hilarious.”	16	16	18	5
SQUAD	A small group of people working together. Example: “The squad of firefighters quickly arrived at the scene.”	15	15	16	5
SQUID	A sea creature with a long, tentacled body. Example: “The squid darted through the water, evading capture.”	15	15	18	5
EQUAL	Being the same in quantity, size, or value. Example: “Both players had equal chances to win the match.”	14	14	16	5
QUAIL	A small bird or to feel afraid or timid. Example: “The hunters spotted a quail in the field” / “She quailed at the thought of speaking in public.”	14	14	16	5
QUART	A unit of liquid capacity, equal to a quarter of a gallon. Example: “The recipe calls for a quart of milk.”	14	14	15	5
QUEEN	A female ruler or monarch. Example: “The queen addressed her people during the celebration.”	14	14	16	5
QUOTE	To repeat or cite something exactly as it was said or written. Example: “He was asked to quote a famous line from the movie.”	14	14	15	5
SQUAT	To crouch down or a small building. Example: “He had to squat to tie his shoes” or “They lived in a squat in the city center.”	14	14	15	5

📄 Download the list of 5-letter Qwords

With 31 common five-letter Q-words, this set is manageable to learn and great for boosting your score. Their points range from 14 to 20 in Scrabble, with top scorers like QUACK (20), QUICK (20), QUAKE (18), QUARK (18), and QUIRK (18)—all packing extra value thanks to high-scoring letters beyond Q. In Words With Friends, some score slightly higher, mainly because U is worth one extra point.

Memorization Tips:

Tip #1: QK - Highest scoring combo: QUICK, QUACK, QUAKE, QUARK, QUIRK

Tip #2: The “SQ” words: SQUAD, SQUIB, SQUID, SQUAT

Tip #3: Plurals & extensions: Some can take an S to form valuable six-letter words:

QUARK → QUARKS
QUIRK → QUIRKS
EQUIP → EQUIPS
QUEST → QUESTS
QUOTA → QUOTAS

Tip #4: Word pairs for quick recall:

QUERY & QUEST (both question-related)
QUOTH & QUOTE (both speech-related)

Maximizing Points in Tight Spaces with Short Q-Words

Short Q-words are not just useful for getting rid of a tricky letter—they can also create high-scoring plays in limited board space.

Example 1: Doubling Up with "QI"

In the final stages of a tight game, I played BI in a narrow spot, forming two words: QI and BIB. Even though "BI" alone was worth just 4 points, the strategic placement of I on a Double Letter Score and forming 2 words helped boost the total to 20 points:

QI = 12 points (Q = 10, I = 1, with I on a Double Letter Score)
BIB = 8 points (B = 3, I = 1, B = 3, I on a Double Letter Score)

Example 2: Anchoring & Extending for High Scores

Scrabble Play - Examples of Anchoring & Extending Qwords for High Scores

Step 1

Played QUID by anchoring it to an existing S, forming SQUID for 25 points. The Q landed on a Double Letter Score, boosting the value.

Step 2

The opponent formed AQUA by placing A, A, and U around Q, scoring 13 points while also clearing low-value vowels.

Example 3: Wrapping "AT" between Q and S

Scrabble Play: Wrapping AT with Q and S and doubling the word score

Wrapped " AT" between Q and S, forming QATS with the S on a Double Word Score, racking up 26 points.

This sequence highlights how Q-words can be stacked and extended to squeeze every possible point from a board position. A single Q can fuel multiple high-value plays!

Making the Most of Your Single Q Tile

With only one Q tile in both Scrabble and Words With Friends, using it wisely is essential. Short Q-words aren’t just helpful, they can be game-changers. Whether you’re tucking QI into a tight spot for a quick boost or chaining plays like SQUID → AQUA for a tight play, strategic use of Q-words can make all the difference.

The key? Know them, spot the right moment, and make the only Q tile count. A well-placed Q-word can shift the game in your favor, even in the most crowded boards. And beyond Scrabble, these words often appear in crosswords. So mastering them can sharpen your skills across multiple word games!

A well-placed Q-word can turn the game in your favor, even when space is tight and options seem limited!

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