2-Letter Words

100 words

Two-letter words are the glue of word games. These tiny powerhouses let you play parallel to existing words, turning tight spots into scoring opportunities. Master this compact list and you'll never waste a turn.

Words starting with A

15

Words starting with B

5

Words starting with D

4

Words starting with E

11

Words starting with F

2

Words starting with G

3

Words starting with H

5

Words starting with I

5

Words starting with J

2

Words starting with K

3

Words starting with L

3

Words starting with M

7

Words starting with N

5

Words starting with O

11

Words starting with P

4

Words starting with Q

1

Words starting with S

2

Words starting with T

4

Words starting with U

3

Words starting with W

2

Words starting with X

1

Words starting with Y

2

Pattern Guide

Insights and recommendations for these words.

Don't underestimate the shortest words in the dictionary. They're often the difference between a blocked board and a brilliant play.

Vocabulary & Language

Linguistic patterns and usage statistics

Most two-letter words fall into a few categories: prepositions (AT, BY, IN, ON, TO), pronouns (HE, IT, ME, WE), and interjections (AH, OH, UH). Many function as grammatical connectors rather than standalone vocabulary. The rest include borrowed terms from other languages and scientific abbreviations that earned dictionary status.

Total Words

110

0.0% of dictionary

Top Scrabble

QI

11 points

Parts of Speech

Nouns
83%
Verbs
3%
Adjectives
3%
Adverbs
4%
Other
6%

Old English dominates this word length, which makes sense—the shortest, most essential words tend to be the oldest. AT traces from Middle English through Old English to Proto-West Germanic. ON follows a similar path through Proto-Germanic. These foundational words have barely changed in over a thousand years.

Word Games

High-value words for board games

Top 2-Letter Words

QI

the circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things; in traditional Chinese medicine the balance of negative and positive forms in the body is believed to be essential for good health

11 pts
ZO
11 pts
AX

terminate

9 pts
EX

a woman who was formerly a particular man's wife

9 pts
JA
9 pts
JO
9 pts
KY

a state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses

9 pts
OX

any of various wild bovines especially of the genera Bos or closely related Bibos

9 pts

QI and ZO tie for top honors in Scrabble at 11 points each. In Words With Friends, JA and JO also reach 11 points because J scores 10 rather than 8. The high-value plays remain consistent across games: learn QI, ZO, AX, EX, and OX. These five words cover your most valuable single-tile opportunities. Memorize them for parallel plays along existing words.

Hidden Gems

Rare but valid words to surprise opponents

KY

a state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses

EA

the Babylonian god of wisdom; son of Apsu and father of Marduk; counterpart of the Sumerian Enki; as one of the supreme triad including Anu and Bel he was assigned control of the watery element

OB

the branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of the mother

AG

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

EA is the Babylonian god of wisdom, son of Apsu and father of Marduk. This obscure mythological term is valid in most word games. It's worth knowing when you're stuck with two vowels and need a quick exit strategy.

Popular crossword answers

Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.