2-Letter Words You Need to Know to Win at Scrabble & WWF

by Lady Puzzle Pro
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Why 2-Letter Words Matter

In Scrabble, Words With Friends (WWF), and other word games, 2-letter words are a game-changer. While they might seem insignificant at first glance, mastering them can unlock huge scoring opportunities, help control the board, and turn a losing position into a winning one.

Top players rely on 2-letter words for several key reasons:

1. Blocking Your Opponent’s Moves

If you place a short word in a key position, you can prevent your opponent from using premium squares. For example, if a Triple Word Score is open, playing EX or QI can seal off access while still earning a solid score.

2. Parallel Play: Doubling or Tripling Your Points

One of the most powerful ways to score big in Scrabble is by playing words parallel to existing ones, forming multiple words at once. If you're learning how to play Scrabble, mastering this technique can give you a serious edge. Suppose the word ABATEMENT is already on the board, spanning across horizontally. By playing RIGID just below it, you don’t just score for that word, you also create five additional words at the same time: AR, BI, AG, TI, and ED. This kind of play can skyrocket your score in a single move while making it harder for your opponent to find their own openings.

Example of Parallel Play, using 2-letter words, in Scrabble
Example of Parallel Play, using 2-letter words, in Scrabble

3. Late-Game Strategy: Finding Playable Spots

At the end of the game, the board can be tight, and options are limited. A well-placed WE, JO, or XI might be the only way to squeeze in one last move—or even go out first and win the game.

4. Vowel Dumps: Balancing Your Rack

If you're stuck with too many vowels, 2-letter words offer an easy way to get rid of them. Words like AA, AE, AI, and OI can help clear your rack while keeping your options open for the next turn.

The Ultimate 2-Letter Word List for Scrabble and Words With Friends

The table below provides a comprehensive overview of all valid 2-letter words, showing which ones are allowed in different word lists (NWL2023, CSW2024, WWF), their point values, and game-specific applicability.

Word SCRABBLE NWL2023 SCRABBLE CSW2024 SCRABBLE SCORE WWF ENABLE WWF SCORE
AAYESYES2YES2
ABYESYES4YES5
ADYESYES3YES3
AEYESYES2YES2
AGYESYES3YES4
AHYESYES5YES4
AIYESYES2YES2
ALYESYES2YES3
AMYESYES4YES5
ANYESYES2YES3
ARYESYES2YES2
ASYESYES2YES2
ATYESYES2YES2
AWYESYES5YES5
AXYESYES9YES9
AYYESYES5YES4
BAYESYES4YES5
BEYESYES4YES5
BIYESYES4YES5
BOYESYES4YES5
BYYESYES7YES7
DAYESYES3YES3
DEYESYES3YES3
DOYESYES3YES3
EDYESYES3YES3
EFYESYES5YES5
EHYESYES5YES4
ELYESYES2YES3
EMYESYES4YES5
ENYESYES2YES3
ERYESYES2YES2
ESYESYES2YES2
ETYESYES2YES2
EWYESYES5YES5
EXYESYES9YES9
FAYESYES5YES5
FEYESYES5YES5
GIYESYES3YES4
GOYESYES3YES4
HAYESYES5YES4
HEYESYES5YES4
HIYESYES5YES4
HMYESYES7YES7
HOYESYES5YES4
IDYESYES3YES3
IFYESYES5YES5
INYESYES2YES3
ISYESYES2YES2
ITYESYES2YES2
JOYESYES9YES11
KAYESYES6YES6
KIYESYES6YES6
LAYESYES2YES3
LIYESYES2YES3
LOYESYES2YES3
MAYESYES4YES5
MEYESYES4YES5
MIYESYES4YES5
MMYESYES6YES8
MOYESYES4YES5
MUYESYES4YES6
MYYESYES7YES7
NAYESYES2YES3
NEYESYES2YES3
NOYESYES2YES3
NUYESYES2YES4
ODYESYES3YES3
OEYESYES2YES2
OFYESYES5YES5
OHYESYES5YES4
OIYESYES2YES2
OKYESYES6YES6
OMYESYES4YES5
ONYESYES2YES3
OPYESYES4YES5
ORYESYES2YES2
OSYESYES2YES2
OWYESYES5YES5
OXYESYES9YES9
OYYESYES5YES4
PAYESYES4YES5
PEYESYES4YES5
PIYESYES4YES5
POYESYES4YES5
QIYESYES11YES11
REYESYES2YES2
SHYESYES5YES4
SIYESYES2YES2
SOYESYES2YES2
TAYESYES2YES2
TEYESYES2YES2
TIYESYES2YES2
TOYESYES2YES2
UHYESYES5YES5
UMYESYES4YES6
UNYESYES2YES4
UPYESYES4YES6
USYESYES2YES3
UTYESYES2YES3
WEYESYES5YES5
WOYESYES5YES5
XIYESYES9YES9
XUYESYES9YES10
YAYESYES5YES4
YEYESYES5YES4
YOYESYES5YES4
ZAYESYES11YES11
KONOYES6NO0
OUNOYES2YES3
CHNOYES7NO0
FYNOYES8NO0
KYNOYES9NO0
IONOYES2YES2
STNOYES2NO0
URNOYES2NO0
YUNOYES5NO0
DINOYES3NO0
GUNOYES3NO0
ZENOYES11NO0
EANOYES2NO0
JANOYES9YES11
NYNOYES5NO0
OONOYES2YES2
ZONOYES11NO0
OBNOYES4NO0
EENOYES2YES2
UGNOYES3NO0
EONONO0YES2
FINONO0YES5
FUNONO0YES6
JENONO0YES11
VUNONO0YES7
YINONO0YES4

Understanding the Differences in 2-Letter Word Lists

As we can see above, not all dictionaries include the same words, and small differences can significantly impact gameplay. Whether you're using a Scrabble word finder, a Words With Friends word finder, or an anagram solver, knowing which words are valid in each dictionary is key to maximizing your score.

Here’s why some words are missing from certain dictionaries:

1. The Scope of Different Dictionaries

  • NWL (North American Scrabble Dictionary, 2023): This is the official Scrabble word list used in tournaments in the U.S. and Canada. It contains 107 two-letter words.
  • CSW (Collins Scrabble Words, 2024): Used in international Scrabble play, it has a broader vocabulary and includes 127 two-letter words 20 more than NWL.
  • WWF ENABLE (Words With Friends Dictionary): This word list is similar to Scrabble but differs in some places, including 118 two-letter words.

2. Words in CSW but Not NWL

The 20 extra words in CSW (not found in NWL) largely reflect regional variations, archaic words, and abbreviations that aren’t commonly accepted in North American Scrabble. Examples include:

  • Loanwords from other languages: KO (Japanese), JA (Afrikaans for “yes”), OU (Scottish dialect word for “wool”).
  • Obsolete or rare words: FY (an exclamation of disgust), UR (an interjection).
  • Variant spellings and dialect words: DI (Scottish word for “do”), NY (Scots for “nigh”).

These words are more likely to appear in British and international Scrabble due to the broader linguistic scope of CSW.

3. WWF: A Mix of NWL and CSW, with Unique Additions

Words With Friends generally includes all 107 words from NWL but allows 11 extra words not in Scrabble at all. These words include:

  • Scientific or technical terms: EO (a chemical element prefix), VU (a unit of loudness).
  • Shortened forms of words: FI (a musical note), FU (slang for kung fu).
  • Possible typos or inconsistencies: Some words like JE and YI appear to be accepted in WWF, despite not being recognized in Scrabble word lists.

On the other hand, WWF doesn’t allow some words that are valid in CSW, including KY, FY, GU, and ZE. This means WWF sits somewhere between NWL and CSW but also has its own unique quirks.

4. Why the Differences Exist

The discrepancies between word lists come down to several factors:

  • Tournament vs. casual play: NWL is stricter, focusing on competitive fairness, while CSW allows a wider range of words.
  • Cultural and regional variations: Some words are more common in British or Scottish English, which influences CSW.
  • Game design philosophy: WWF has its own editorial decisions, occasionally accepting words that don’t appear in any Scrabble list.

Here are downloadable PDFs for all 2-letter words across different word lists:

Knowing how to play Words With Friends effectively relies heavily on mastering 2-letter words. Understanding which words are valid and where to place them—whether using the NWL, CSW, or WWF dictionary—can give you a serious edge in the game.

But even experienced players make mistakes. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:

❌ Assuming all 2-letter words are universal—WWF, CSW, and NWL each have unique words!
❌ Thinking ZE is valid in NWL or WWF (it’s only allowed in CSW).
❌ Forgetting that QI and ZA are high-scoring power plays.
❌ Missing plural opportunities ( EX → EXES, PE → PES), which can rack up extra points.

Want to memorize these words faster and recall them effortlessly during games? Check out our Learn 2-letter words tips and printable lists so you can play smarter and score higher!

Need help finding the best plays? Try our Word Finder tools:

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