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3-Letter Words — Complete List for Scrabble, Wordle & More
Three-letter words are where Scrabble strategy really starts. There are only 1,000-odd valid three-letter words in the TWL list, and roughly the same in SOWPODS, but they enable almost every parallel-play combo on the board. A two-letter hook that turns into a three-letter word along a second axis can net 30+ points in a single move.
Notable three-letter words that most casual players miss include XED, ZEE, ZAX, JEU, QAT (also QAT / KHAT / a flowering plant), QUA, QIS, and ZEP (a long sandwich). Because many three-letter words end in common letters (S, E, Y, D), they are perfect for extending an adjacent word with a disposable consonant from your rack.
Three letters is also the minimum length accepted by most New York Times mini-crossword grids and by the Spelling Bee puzzle (the full NYT Spelling Bee only accepts 4+, but its three-letter cousins show up everywhere). If you are learning a new board game that uses word validity — Bananagrams, Quiddler, Upwords — the three-letter list is the single most valuable chunk to memorise after the two-letter list.
Top 500 Highest-Scoring 3-Letter Words (500 of 1,340)
ZZZ30
ZIZ21
ZUZ21
JIZ19
ZAX19
ZEX19
ZEK16
FEZ15
FIZ15
PYX15
WAZ15
WIZ15
WUZ15
YEZ15
ZHO15
BEZ14
BIZ14
CAZ14
COZ14
CUZ14
JAK14
KEX14
MIZ14
MOZ14
POZ14
ZAP14
ZEP14
ZIP14
ADZ13
DZO13
FAX13
FIX13
FOX13
HAJ13
HEX13
HOX13
JAW13
JAY13
JOW13
JOY13
OXY13
VAX13
VEX13
VOX13
WAX13
WEX13
WOX13
YEX13
ZAG13
ZED13
ZIG13
AZO12
BOX12
COX12
JAB12
JAM12
JAP12
JIB12
JOB12
LUZ12
MAX12
MIX12
MUX12
PAX12
PIX12
POX12
QAT12
QIN12
QIS12
QUA12
REZ12
RIZ12
SAZ12
SEZ12
SOZ12
SUQ12
TIZ12
WHY12
ZAS12
ZEA12
ZEE12
ZEL12
ZEN12
ZIN12
ZIT12
ZOA12
ZOL12
ZOO12
ZOS12
DEX11
DOX11
DUX11
GJU11
GOX11
HYP11
JAG11
JIG11
JOG11
JUD11
JUG11
KAK11
XED11
AJI10
AWK10
AXE10
CWM10
EWK10
EXO10
HMM10
JAI10
JAR10
JEE10
JET10
JEU10
JIN10
JOE10
JOL10
JOR10
JOT10
JUN10
JUS10
JUT10
KAF10
KAW10
KAY10
KEF10
KEY10
KHI10
KIF10
KOW10
KYE10
KYU10
LAX10
LEX10
LOX10
LUX10
MYC10
NIX10
NOX10
OXO10
RAJ10
RAX10
REX10
SAX10
SEX10
SIX10
SKY10
SOX10
TAJ10
TAX10
TEX10
TIX10
TUX10
WOK10
XIS10
YAK10
YOK10
YUK10
AFF9
BOK9
EFF9
FAH9
FAW9
FAY9
FEH9
FEW9
FEY9
FLY9
FOH9
FOY9
FRY9
GYM9
GYP9
HAH9
HAW9
HAY9
HEH9
HEW9
HEY9
HOH9
HOW9
HOY9
HUH9
HYE9
ICK9
IFF9
IVY9
KAB9
KAM9
KEB9
KEP9
KIP9
KOB9
KOP9
MAK9
MMM9
OFF9
PAK9
RHY9
SHH9
SHY9
SWY9
THY9
VAV9
VAW9
VLY9
VOW9
WAW9
WAY9
WEY9
WHA9
WHO9
WOF9
WOW9
WRY9
WYE9
WYN9
YAH9
YAW9
YAY9
YEH9
YEW9
YOW9
ABY8
ACH8
BAH8
BAY8
BEY8
BOH8
BOW8
BOY8
BUY8
BYE8
BYS8
CAF8
CAW8
CAY8
CHA8
CHE8
CHI8
CLY8
COW8
COY8
CRY8
DAK8
ECH8
FAB8
FAP8
FEM8
FIB8
FOB8
FOP8
FUB8
FUM8
GAK8
HAM8
HAP8
HEM8
HEP8
HIC8
HIM8
HIP8
HOB8
HOC8
HOM8
HOP8
HUB8
HUM8
HUP8
ICH8
ICY8
KED8
KEG8
KID8
LYM8
MAW8
MAY8
MEH8
MEW8
MHO8
MOW8
MOY8
NYM8
OCH8
OHM8
PAH8
PAV8
PAW8
PAY8
PEH8
PEW8
PHI8
PHO8
PHT8
PLY8
POH8
POW8
PRY8
PUH8
PUY8
PWN8
PYA8
PYE8
SPY8
TWP8
VAC8
VIM8
VOM8
VUM8
WAB8
WAP8
WEB8
WEM8
WOP8
YAM8
YAP8
YEP8
YIP8
YOB8
YOM8
YUM8
YUP8
ABB7
AKA7
AKE7
AMP7
APP7
ARK7
ASK7
AUK7
BAC7
BAM7
BAP7
BIB7
BOB7
BOP7
BUB7
BUM7
CAB7
CAM7
CAP7
CEP7
COB7
COP7
CUB7
CUM7
CUP7
DAH7
DAW7
DAY7
DEF7
DEV7
DEW7
DEY7
DIF7
DIV7
DOF7
DOH7
DOW7
DOY7
DRY7
DUH7
DYE7
EBB7
EDH7
EEK7
EIK7
EKE7
ELK7
ERK7
EUK7
FAD7
FAG7
FED7
FEG7
FID7
FIG7
FOG7
FUD7
FUG7
GAW7
GAY7
GEY7
GHI7
GIF7
GOV7
GUV7
GUY7
HAD7
HAG7
HID7
HOD7
HOG7
HUG7
ILK7
IMP7
INK7
IRK7
KAE7
KAI7
KAS7
KAT7
KEA7
KEN7
KET7
KIN7
KIR7
KIS7
KIT7
KOA7
KOI7
KON7
KOR7
KOS7
KUE7
LEK7
MAC7
MAM7
MAP7
MEM7
MIB7
MIC7
MIM7
MOB7
MOC7
MOM7
MOP7
MUM7
NEK7
OAK7
OIK7
OKA7
OKE7
OUK7
PAC7
PAM7
PAP7
PEC7
PEP7
PIC7
PIP7
POM7
POP7
PUB7
PUP7
ROK7
SIK7
SKA7
SKI7
SUK7
TAK7
TIK7
TSK7
TYG7
UGH7
UKE7
UMM7
UMP7
VAG7
VEG7
VID7
VIG7
VOG7
VUG7
WAD7
WAG7
WED7
WIG7
WUD7
YAD7
YAG7
YGO7
YOD7
YUG7
AAH6
AFT6
AHA6
AHI6
AHS6
ALF6
ANY6
ARF6
ARY6
ASH6
AUF6
AVA6
AVE6
AVO6
AWA6
AWE6
AWL6
AWN6
AYE6
AYS6
AYU6
BAD6
BAG6
BED6
BEG6
BID6
ZIZ21
ZUZ21
JIZ19
ZAX19
ZEX19
ZEK16
FEZ15
FIZ15
PYX15
WAZ15
WIZ15
WUZ15
YEZ15
ZHO15
BEZ14
BIZ14
CAZ14
COZ14
CUZ14
JAK14
KEX14
MIZ14
MOZ14
POZ14
ZAP14
ZEP14
ZIP14
ADZ13
DZO13
FAX13
FIX13
FOX13
HAJ13
HEX13
HOX13
JAW13
JAY13
JOW13
JOY13
OXY13
VAX13
VEX13
VOX13
WAX13
WEX13
WOX13
YEX13
ZAG13
ZED13
ZIG13
AZO12
BOX12
COX12
JAB12
JAM12
JAP12
JIB12
JOB12
LUZ12
MAX12
MIX12
MUX12
PAX12
PIX12
POX12
QAT12
QIN12
QIS12
QUA12
REZ12
RIZ12
SAZ12
SEZ12
SOZ12
SUQ12
TIZ12
WHY12
ZAS12
ZEA12
ZEE12
ZEL12
ZEN12
ZIN12
ZIT12
ZOA12
ZOL12
ZOO12
ZOS12
DEX11
DOX11
DUX11
GJU11
GOX11
HYP11
JAG11
JIG11
JOG11
JUD11
JUG11
KAK11
XED11
AJI10
AWK10
AXE10
CWM10
EWK10
EXO10
HMM10
JAI10
JAR10
JEE10
JET10
JEU10
JIN10
JOE10
JOL10
JOR10
JOT10
JUN10
JUS10
JUT10
KAF10
KAW10
KAY10
KEF10
KEY10
KHI10
KIF10
KOW10
KYE10
KYU10
LAX10
LEX10
LOX10
LUX10
MYC10
NIX10
NOX10
OXO10
RAJ10
RAX10
REX10
SAX10
SEX10
SIX10
SKY10
SOX10
TAJ10
TAX10
TEX10
TIX10
TUX10
WOK10
XIS10
YAK10
YOK10
YUK10
AFF9
BOK9
EFF9
FAH9
FAW9
FAY9
FEH9
FEW9
FEY9
FLY9
FOH9
FOY9
FRY9
GYM9
GYP9
HAH9
HAW9
HAY9
HEH9
HEW9
HEY9
HOH9
HOW9
HOY9
HUH9
HYE9
ICK9
IFF9
IVY9
KAB9
KAM9
KEB9
KEP9
KIP9
KOB9
KOP9
MAK9
MMM9
OFF9
PAK9
RHY9
SHH9
SHY9
SWY9
THY9
VAV9
VAW9
VLY9
VOW9
WAW9
WAY9
WEY9
WHA9
WHO9
WOF9
WOW9
WRY9
WYE9
WYN9
YAH9
YAW9
YAY9
YEH9
YEW9
YOW9
ABY8
ACH8
BAH8
BAY8
BEY8
BOH8
BOW8
BOY8
BUY8
BYE8
BYS8
CAF8
CAW8
CAY8
CHA8
CHE8
CHI8
CLY8
COW8
COY8
CRY8
DAK8
ECH8
FAB8
FAP8
FEM8
FIB8
FOB8
FOP8
FUB8
FUM8
GAK8
HAM8
HAP8
HEM8
HEP8
HIC8
HIM8
HIP8
HOB8
HOC8
HOM8
HOP8
HUB8
HUM8
HUP8
ICH8
ICY8
KED8
KEG8
KID8
LYM8
MAW8
MAY8
MEH8
MEW8
MHO8
MOW8
MOY8
NYM8
OCH8
OHM8
PAH8
PAV8
PAW8
PAY8
PEH8
PEW8
PHI8
PHO8
PHT8
PLY8
POH8
POW8
PRY8
PUH8
PUY8
PWN8
PYA8
PYE8
SPY8
TWP8
VAC8
VIM8
VOM8
VUM8
WAB8
WAP8
WEB8
WEM8
WOP8
YAM8
YAP8
YEP8
YIP8
YOB8
YOM8
YUM8
YUP8
ABB7
AKA7
AKE7
AMP7
APP7
ARK7
ASK7
AUK7
BAC7
BAM7
BAP7
BIB7
BOB7
BOP7
BUB7
BUM7
CAB7
CAM7
CAP7
CEP7
COB7
COP7
CUB7
CUM7
CUP7
DAH7
DAW7
DAY7
DEF7
DEV7
DEW7
DEY7
DIF7
DIV7
DOF7
DOH7
DOW7
DOY7
DRY7
DUH7
DYE7
EBB7
EDH7
EEK7
EIK7
EKE7
ELK7
ERK7
EUK7
FAD7
FAG7
FED7
FEG7
FID7
FIG7
FOG7
FUD7
FUG7
GAW7
GAY7
GEY7
GHI7
GIF7
GOV7
GUV7
GUY7
HAD7
HAG7
HID7
HOD7
HOG7
HUG7
ILK7
IMP7
INK7
IRK7
KAE7
KAI7
KAS7
KAT7
KEA7
KEN7
KET7
KIN7
KIR7
KIS7
KIT7
KOA7
KOI7
KON7
KOR7
KOS7
KUE7
LEK7
MAC7
MAM7
MAP7
MEM7
MIB7
MIC7
MIM7
MOB7
MOC7
MOM7
MOP7
MUM7
NEK7
OAK7
OIK7
OKA7
OKE7
OUK7
PAC7
PAM7
PAP7
PEC7
PEP7
PIC7
PIP7
POM7
POP7
PUB7
PUP7
ROK7
SIK7
SKA7
SKI7
SUK7
TAK7
TIK7
TSK7
TYG7
UGH7
UKE7
UMM7
UMP7
VAG7
VEG7
VID7
VIG7
VOG7
VUG7
WAD7
WAG7
WED7
WIG7
WUD7
YAD7
YAG7
YGO7
YOD7
YUG7
AAH6
AFT6
AHA6
AHI6
AHS6
ALF6
ANY6
ARF6
ARY6
ASH6
AUF6
AVA6
AVE6
AVO6
AWA6
AWE6
AWL6
AWN6
AYE6
AYS6
AYU6
BAD6
BAG6
BED6
BEG6
BID6
Frequently Asked Questions
How common are 3-letter words in the dictionary?
Our dictionary lists 1,340 valid 3-letter English words (filtered to lowercase a–z, no hyphens or apostrophes, drawn from a combined Scrabble / Words With Friends / Wordle / general-English reference list). Other dictionaries may include slightly more or fewer depending on their inclusion rules for proper nouns, inflections, and obscure spelling variants.
Top-scoring Scrabble play at 3 letters?
Ranked by Scrabble value, ZZZ is on top with 30 points before any bonuses. Premium squares are where the real scoring boost comes from — triple-word triples the raw score.
Does Words With Friends use the same 3-letter dictionary as Scrabble?
3-letter dictionary overlap between the two is very high — well over 90% of common English — but not identical. Scrabble uses TWL or SOWPODS; WWF uses Zynga’s list, which includes some words the others omit and excludes some they accept. For competitive play, each game’s built-in validator is definitive.