Words That Start With Q — Scrabble & Word Games

Q is the 25th most common letter in English, appearing in only about 0.10% of all text — rarer than any letter except Z in some counts. Q has an unusual property: it is almost always followed by U. Only a handful of English words (QI, QAT, QOPH) violate this rule, and they are borrowings from Chinese, Arabic, and Hebrew respectively.

In Scrabble, Q is worth 10 points — tied with Z for the highest letter value — with only 1 Q tile in the bag. Q is simultaneously the most valuable and the most troublesome tile because of the Q-U requirement. Being “Q-stuck” (Q with no U) is a nightmare scenario; tournament players memorise the Q-without-U words religiously: QI, QIS, QAT, QATS, QOPH, QOPHS, QADI, QADIS, QAID, QAIDS, QANAT, QANATS, QINDAR, QINDARS.

High-scoring Q-words that do have U include QUARTZ (24 base points), QUIZZED (35), JAZZED-family. Q-initial words appear in many academic contexts (QUANTUM, QUOTIENT) and classical Latin origins (QUADR-, QUINT-, QUASI-).

Top 500 Highest-Scoring Words Starting With Q (500 of 1,399)

QUIZZIFICATIONS47
QUIZZIFICATION46
QUIZZIFYING45
QUIZZICALITY44
QUIZZICALITIES43
QUIZZICALLY43
QUIZZIFIED41
QUIZZIFY41
QUINQUEVALENCY40
QUINQUIVALENCY40
QUIZZIFIES40
QUIZZINESSES39
QUAQUAVERSALLY38
QUINQUEVALENCES38
QUINQUIVALENCES38
QUIZZERY38
QUIZZICAL38
QUINQUEVALENCE37
QUINQUIVALENCE37
QUIZZERIES37
QUIZZINESS37
QUIZZINGS37
QUAZZIEST36
QUAZZY36
QUELQUECHOSES36
QUIZZING36
QUAZZIER35
QUELQUECHOSE35
QUICKSILVERISH35
QUINQUAGESIMAL35
QUINQUEFARIOUS35
QUINQUEFOLIATE35
QUINQUENNIALLY35
QUIZZED35
QUIZZERS35
QUARTZIFEROUS34
QUICKSILVERINGS34
QUINQUAGENARIAN34
QUINQUECOSTATE34
QUINQUEPARTITE34
QUINQUEVALENT34
QUINQUIVALENT34
QUIZZER34
QUIZZES34
QUADRUPLEXING33
QUAQUAVERSAL33
QUARTERBACKINGS33
QUICKSILVERIEST33
QUICKSILVERING33
QUICKSILVERY33
QUICKSTEPPING33
QUINQUENNIUMS33
QUIXOTICALLY33
QUADRISYLLABICS32
QUADRUPLEXED32
QUARTERBACKING32
QUICKSILVERED32
QUICKSILVERIER32
QUICKSTEPPED32
QUINQUENNIADS32
QUINQUENNIUM32
QUINQUEREMES32
QUODLIBETICALLY32
QAIMAQAMS31
QAJAQS31
QUACKSALVING31
QUADRISYLLABIC31
QUADRIVALENCY31
QUADRUPLEXES31
QUALIFICATIVES31
QUANTIZATIONS31
QUARTERBACKED31
QUINQUENNIAD31
QUINQUENNIALS31
QUINQUEREME31
QUIZMASTERS31
QAIMAQAM30
QAJAQ30
QUACKSALVERS30
QUADRAPHONICS30
QUADRIPHONICS30
QUADRISYLLABLES30
QUADRIVALENCIES30
QUADROPHONICS30
QUADRUPLICATING30
QUADRUPLICITY30
QUALIFICATIVE30
QUALIFICATORY30
QUANTIZATION30
QUARTERDECKERS30
QUARTZITIC30
QUICKSILVERS30
QUINQUENNIAL30
QUINZHEES30
QUIZMASTER30
QUACKSALVER29
QUADPLEXES29
QUADRAPHONIC29
QUADRAPHONY29
QUADRATRIXES29
QUADRIPHONIC29
QUADRISYLLABLE29
QUADRIVALENCES29
QUADROPHONIC29
QUADROPHONY29
QUADRUMVIRATES29
QUADRUPLEX29
QUADRUPLICATED29
QUADRUPLICATION29
QUADRUPLICITIES29
QUANTIFICATIONS29
QUANTITATIVELY29
QUANTIZING29
QUARTERBACKS29
QUARTERDECKER29
QUATERCENTENARY29
QUATORZAINS29
QUENCHLESSLY29
QUESTIONABILITY29
QUICKBEAMS29
QUICKSILVER29
QUICKTHORNS29
QUINAQUINAS29
QUINCUNCIALLY29
QUINCUNXIAL29
QUINQUENNIA29
QUINTUPLICATING29
QUINZHEE29
QUOTEWORTHIEST29
QUOTEWORTHY29
QUADRANGULARLY28
QUADRAPHONIES28
QUADRAPLEGICS28
QUADRATICALLY28
QUADRIPLEGICS28
QUADRIVALENCE28
QUADROPHONIES28
QUADRUMVIRATE28
QUADRUPLICATES28
QUALIFICATIONS28
QUALITATIVELY28
QUALMISHNESSES28
QUANGOCRACY28
QUANTIFICATION28
QUANTIVALENCES28
QUANTIZED28
QUANTIZERS28
QUARTERBACK28
QUARTERDECKS28
QUARTERSTAFFS28
QUARTODECIMANS28
QUARTZIEST28
QUARTZITES28
QUARTZY28
QUATORZAIN28
QUATTROCENTISMS28
QUERIMONIOUSLY28
QUIBBLINGLY28
QUICKBEAM28
QUICKTHORN28
QUINALBARBITONE28
QUINAQUINA28
QUINCUNXES28
QUINQUINAS28
QUINTUPLICATED28
QUINTUPLICATION28
QUIXOTICAL28
QUIXOTISMS28
QUOTEWORTHIER28
QUADPLEX27
QUADRAPLEGIC27
QUADRATRIX27
QUADRICIPITAL27
QUADRIGEMINATE27
QUADRIGEMINOUS27
QUADRILLIONTHS27
QUADRINGENARY27
QUADRIPARTITION27
QUADRIPLEGIC27
QUADRUPLICATE27
QUAESTORSHIPS27
QUALIFICATION27
QUALIFICATORS27
QUALIFIEDLY27
QUALIFYINGS27
QUALMISHLY27
QUANGOCRACIES27
QUANTIFYING27
QUANTITIVELY27
QUANTIVALENCE27
QUANTIZER27
QUANTIZES27
QUARRELSOMELY27
QUARRYMASTERS27
QUARTERDECK27
QUARTERFINALIST27
QUARTERSTAFF27
QUARTODECIMAN27
QUARTZIER27
QUARTZITE27
QUARTZOSE27
QUARTZOUS27
QUASICRYSTALS27
QUASIPARTICLES27
QUASIPERIODIC27
QUATORZES27
QUATTROCENTISM27
QUAVERINGLY27
QUEAZIEST27
QUEAZY27
QUETZALES27
QUICKENINGS27
QUICKFIRE27
QUICKLIMES27
QUICKSTEPS27
QUIDDITCHES27
QUILLBACKS27
QUINCENTENARY27
QUINDECAPLETS27
QUINQUINA27
QUINTUPLICATES27
QUIVERINGLY27
QUIXOTISM27
QUIXOTRY27
QUODLIBETARIANS27
QUODLIBETICAL27
QUACKERY26
QUACKISH26
QUACKISMS26
QUADRAGENARIANS26
QUADRAGESIMAL26
QUADRAPLEGIAS26
QUADRENNIALLY26
QUADRICEPSES26
QUADRIFARIOUS26
QUADRIFOLIATE26
QUADRIGEMINAL26
QUADRILLIONTH26
QUADRINGENARIES26
QUADRIPLEGIAS26
QUADRISECTING26
QUADRISECTIONS26
QUADRIVALENTS26
QUADRIVIUMS26
QUADRUMVIRS26
QUAESTORSHIP26
QUAFFABLE26
QUAKINGLY26
QUALIFICATOR26
QUALIFYING26
QUALMISHNESS26
QUANTIFIABLE26
QUANTIZE26
QUARRELSOMENESS26
QUARRYMASTER26
QUARTERLIGHTS26
QUARTERMISTRESS26
QUARTERSAWING26
QUARTZES26
QUASICRYSTAL26
QUASIPARTICLE26
QUATORZE26
QUATREFEUILLES26
QUATTROCENTISTS26
QUEAZIER26
QUEBRACHOS26
QUEENFISHES26
QUENCHABLE26
QUERYINGLY26
QUESTIONABLY26
QUESTIONINGLY26
QUESTIONLESSLY26
QUESTORSHIPS26
QUETZALS26
QUEZALES26
QUICKENING26
QUICKLIME26
QUICKNESSES26
QUICKSANDS26
QUICKSTEP26
QUIDDANYING26
QUIDDITATIVE26
QUIESCENCY26
QUILLBACK26
QUILLWORKS26
QUINCENTENARIES26
QUINCENTENNIALS26
QUINCUNX26
QUINDECAPLET26
QUINDECENNIALS26
QUINDECILLIONS26
QUINGENTENARY26
QUINTILLIONTHS26
QUINTUPLICATE26
QUINZIES26
QUITCLAIMING26
QUIXOTIC26
QUIXOTRIES26
QUODLIBETARIAN26
QUACKERIES25
QUACKISM25
QUACKLING25
QUADCOPTERS25
QUADRAGENARIAN25
QUADRAPLEGIA25
QUADRIENNIUMS25
QUADRIFORM25
QUADRILOCULAR25
QUADRINOMIALS25
QUADRIPARTITE25
QUADRIPLEGIA25
QUADRISECTED25
QUADRISECTION25
QUADRIVALENT25
QUADRIVIUM25
QUADRUMVIR25
QUALIFIABLE25
QUARTERFINALS25
QUARTERLIGHT25
QUARTERMASTERS25
QUARTERSAWED25
QUARTERSTAVES25
QUATREFEUILLE25
QUATTROCENTIST25
QUEBRACHO25
QUEENCAKES25
QUEENCRAFTS25
QUENCHINGS25
QUESTORSHIP25
QUETZAL25
QUEZALS25
QUICKENED25
QUICKENERS25
QUICKLY25
QUICKSAND25
QUIDDITCH25
QUIESCENCIES25
QUIESCENTLY25
QUILLAJAS25
QUILLWORK25
QUINCENTENNIAL25
QUINDECAGONS25
QUINDECENNIAL25
QUINDECILLION25
QUINGENTENARIES25
QUINTILLIONTH25
QUINZES25
QUINZIE25
QUIRKINESSES25
QUITCLAIMED25
QUIVERFULS25
QUIVERSFUL25
QULLIQS25
QUODLIBETIC25
QUOTABILITY25
QUOTABLENESSES25
QUACKIEST24
QUACKING24
QUACKLED24
QUACKY24
QUADCOPTER24
QUADPLAYS24
QUADRASONICS24
QUADRATRICES24
QUADRENNIUMS24
QUADRICEPS24
QUADRIENNIUM24
QUADRILATERALS24
QUADRILINGUAL24
QUADRILITERALS24
QUADRINOMIAL24
QUADRUMANOUS24
QUADRUPEDAL24
QUADRUPLING24
QUADRUPLY24
QUAESTIONARY24
QUAFFING24
QUAKINESSES24
QUANTITATIVE24
QUANTIVALENT24
QUARTERFINAL24
QUARTERMASTER24
QUARTZ24
QUATCHING24
QUATTROCENTOS24
QUAYLIKE24
QUEACHIEST24
QUEACHY24
QUEECHIEST24
QUEECHY24
QUEENCAKE24
QUEENCRAFT24
QUEENFISH24
QUEENSHIPS24
QUELCHING24
QUENCHING24
QUENCHLESS24
QUERULOUSNESSES24
QUETCHING24
QUEZAL24
QUIBBLINGS24
QUICKENER24
QUICKNESS24
QUICKSETS24
QUICKY24
QUIESCENCES24
QUILLAJA24
QUINCHING24
QUINCUNCIAL24
QUINDECAGON24
QUINTESSENCES24
QUINTESSENTIALS24
QUINZE24
QUIPPISH24
QUIRKILY24
QUIRKISH24
QUISLINGISMS24
QUITCHING24
QUIVERFUL24
QUIVERISH24
QUIXOTES24
QULLIQ24
QUOKKAS24
QUOTABILITIES24
QABALISTIC23
QAMUTIKS23
QAWWALIS23
QINGHAOSUS23
QUACKED23
QUACKERS23
QUACKIER23
QUACKLES23
QUADPLAY23
QUADRANGULAR23
QUADRASONIC23
QUADRATICAL23
QUADRENNIUM23
QUADRICEP23
QUADRICONES23
QUADRIFID23
QUADRILATERAL23
QUADRILITERAL23
QUADRIPOLES23
QUADRIREMES23
QUADRISECTS23
QUADRIVIAL23
QUADRUMANES23
QUADRUPEDS23
QUADRUPLED23
QUADRUPLETS23
QUADRUPLIES23
QUADRUPOLES23
QUAESTIONARIES23
QUAFFED23
QUAFFERS23
QUAGGINESSES23
QUAGMIRIEST23
QUAGMIRING23
QUAGMIRY23
QUAKILY23
QUALITATIVE23
QUAMASHES23
QUANTIFIED23
QUANTIFIERS23
QUANTIFY23
QUANTOMETERS23
QUARRYINGS23
QUARRYMAN23
QUARRYMEN23
QUARTERLIFE23
QUARTERSAWN23
QUARTERSAWS23
QUATCHED23
QUATERNIONISTS23
QUATREFOILS23
QUATTROCENTO23
QUAVERINGS23
QUEACHIER23
QUEECHIER23
QUEENHOODS23
QUEENSHIP23
QUELCHED23
QUENCHED23
QUENCHERS23
QUERCETUMS23
QUERIMONIOUS23
QUERIMONY23
QUERSPRUNGS23
QUERULOUSLY23
QUESTINGLY23
QUESTIONABLE23
QUESTIONARY23
QUESTIONNAIRES23
QUETCHED23
QUETSCHES23
QUIBBLING23
QUICHING23
QUICKENS23
QUICKEST23
QUICKIES23

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Q a common starting letter in English?

We have 1,399 Q-initial entries, which is about 0.4% of the full word list. That’s roughly proportional to Q’s text-frequency of 0.10% (ranked 25th among the 26 letters).

What Q-word scores the most points in Scrabble?

QUIZZIFICATIONS takes the top spot at 47 Scrabble points using standard TWL values — and that’s before any premium squares. The raw Q tile is worth 10 points.

What are the shortest Q-initial English words?

At 2 letters, QI is the minimum-length Q-initial word in our list. Short words are the bread of Scrabble — they make premium squares easy to reach and let you save longer rack plays for bingos.