Words Starting With FU
100 wordsFU words bring together some of English's most expressive vocabulary, from the forceful FULMINATE to the delicate FUGUE. This collection spans functional terms, scientific nomenclature, and everyday language that keeps conversation moving forward.
3-letter words
34-letter words
125-letter words
146-letter words
187-letter words
198-letter words
159-letter words
410-letter words
511-letter words
512-letter words
113-letter words
214-letter words
2Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The FU pattern offers strategic depth for word game players, with high-value Z combinations and surprising long words that can transform a game.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
The FU combination appears in words from two distinct streams: Latin-derived formal vocabulary (FUNCTION, FUTURE, FUGITIVE) and Germanic everyday words (FUN, FULL, FUSS). The Latin prefix FUG- meaning 'to flee' gives us FUGITIVE, REFUGE, and FUGUE. Meanwhile, FUS- from Latin 'to pour' creates FUSE, FUSION, and DIFFUSE—words about combining or spreading.
Total Words
393
0.1% of dictionary
Avg Length
7.9 letters
2.8 syllables
Top Scrabble
FUZZBALL
31 points
Longest Word
FUNDAMENTALISTIC
16 letters
Parts of Speech
With 60% nouns dominating this pattern, FU words tend to name things rather than describe actions. The 2.8 average syllables per word reflects the heavy Latin influence, which typically produces longer, more formal vocabulary.
Latin leads the etymological origins here, followed by Middle English and French—a pattern showing how English absorbed formal vocabulary through Norman influence. The word FUSTET traces a fascinating path from Arabic فُسْتَق through Old Occitan and Middle French, revealing medieval trade routes in language. FURBISH traveled from Frankish through Old French, picking up its meaning of 'polishing' along the way.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant
shrubby Japanese cherry tree having pale pink blossoms
Medium (5-7)
Long (8+)
the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines
a liquid aldehyde with a penetrating odor; made from plant hulls and corncobs; used in making furan and as a solvent
Short (2-4)
uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
shrubby Japanese cherry tree having pale pink blossoms
any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant
Medium (5-7)
covering with fine light hairs
Long (8+)
the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines
of or relating to or characteristic of Protestant fundamentalism or its adherents
FUZZ and its derivatives dominate both Scrabble and WWF scoring, but WWF's boosted Z value (10 points vs 10 in Scrabble) makes the difference more pronounced in extended plays. FUZZBALL scores 35 in WWF versus 31 in Scrabble—that four-point gap compounds with premium squares. FUJI offers a reliable mid-range play at 17 WWF points, useful when the J appears early. For Scrabble specifically, FURFURALDEHYDE at 28 points demonstrates how scientific terms can anchor bingo plays.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Common Words (likely answers)
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
FUNDAMENTALISTIC stretches to 16 letters, reflecting how Latin roots combine with Greek-derived suffixes (-ISTIC) to build complex descriptive terms. The shortest FU words—FUB, FUG, FUM—survive as informal or archaic terms that rarely appear in modern writing.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
a form of carbon having a large molecule consisting of an empty cage of sixty or more carbon atoms
a device that generates a gas for the purpose of disinfecting or eradicating pests
a commodity that is freely interchangeable with another in satisfying an obligation
a unit of length equal to 220 yards
FULLERENE names a form of carbon with cage-shaped molecules of sixty or more atoms—the famous 'buckyballs' of chemistry. Valid in both Scrabble and WWF, it's a nine-letter scientific term most players won't challenge. The word honors architect Buckminster Fuller, whose geodesic domes inspired the molecule's name.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.
More "FU" Pages
Browse words by longer letter combinations starting with "FU".