Short words with J, Q, X and Z
J and X are worth 8 points; Q and Z are worth 10. Short words let you play them on premium squares and in two directions at once, so these lists are worth more than any other study you can do.
How to use them
- Look for the double play. A Z on a triple-letter square that makes two words scores 60 points before you count anything else.
- X is the easiest to place. AX, EX, OX, XI and XU make X fit almost anywhere next to a vowel.
- Don't hold a Q for too long. If you can't see a play, QI or an exchange is better than being stuck with 10 points on your rack at the end.
- Watch the triple-letter squares next to vowels. That is where these tiles score most.
J words (8 points)
Two letters
- JA
- JO
Three letters (32)
- AJI
- GJU
- HAJ
- JAB
- JAG
- JAI
- JAK
- JAM
- JAR
- JAW
- JAY
- JEE
- JET
- JEU
- JIB
- JIG
- JIN
- JOB
- JOE
- JOG
- JOL
- JOR
- JOT
- JOW
- JOY
- JUD
- JUG
- JUN
- JUS
- JUT
- RAJ
- TAJ
Q words (10 points)
Two letters
- QI
Three letters (5)
- QAT
- QIN
- QIS
- QUA
- SUQ
X words (8 points)
Two letters
- AX
- EX
- OX
- XI
- XU
Three letters (50)
- AXE
- BOX
- COX
- DEX
- DOX
- DUX
- EXO
- FAX
- FIX
- FOX
- GOX
- HEX
- HOX
- KEX
- LAX
- LEX
- LOX
- LUX
- MAX
- MIX
- MUX
- NIX
- NOX
- OXO
- OXY
- PAX
- PIX
- POX
- PYX
- RAX
- REX
- SAX
- SEX
- SIX
- SOX
- TAX
- TEX
- TIX
- TUX
- VAX
- VEX
- VOX
- WAX
- WEX
- WOX
- XED
- XIS
- YEX
- ZAX
- ZEX
Z words (10 points)
Two letters
- ZA
- ZE
- ZO
Three letters (48)
- ADZ
- AZO
- BEZ
- BIZ
- CAZ
- COZ
- CUZ
- DZO
- FEZ
- FIZ
- LUZ
- MIZ
- MOZ
- POZ
- REZ
- RIZ
- SAZ
- SEZ
- SOZ
- TIZ
- WAZ
- WIZ
- WUZ
- YEZ
- ZAG
- ZAP
- ZAS
- ZAX
- ZEA
- ZED
- ZEE
- ZEK
- ZEL
- ZEN
- ZEP
- ZEX
- ZHO
- ZIG
- ZIN
- ZIP
- ZIT
- ZIZ
- ZOA
- ZOL
- ZOO
- ZOS
- ZUZ
- ZZZ
Q without a U
Stuck with a Q and no U? These Collins words need no U at all. See all 103 Q words without U with meanings.
Want the four-letter words too? See the full lists of words with X, words with Z and words with J.
- QI
- QIS
- QAT
- QATS
- QADI
- QAID
- QOPH
- FAQIR
- NIQAB
- QANAT
- QIBLA
- QORMA
- TRANQ
- QABALA
- QIGONG
- QINTAR
- SHEQEL
- MBAQANGA
Lists are taken from Collins Scrabble Words. Words later removed from the list as offensive are left out. The 2024 edition added new words, so a few recent additions may not appear here.
Common questions
How many points are J, Q, X and Z worth in Scrabble?
J and X are worth 8 points each. Q and Z are worth 10 points each.
What are the best short words with a Z?
ZA, ZE and ZO are the highest-scoring two-letter Z words in Collins, at 11 points before premiums. This page also lists every valid three-letter Z word.
Which two-letter words use X?
AX, EX, OX, XI and XU are the two-letter X words in Collins. They fit next to almost any vowel, which makes X the easiest high-value tile to place.
What two-letter words use J?
JA and JO are the only two-letter J words in Collins. JA is South African for yes, and JO is a Scots word for a sweetheart.
How can I play the Q without a U?
Learn QI, QAT, QIN and SUQ first. They cover most Q plays without a U. See all the Q words without U.
Where is the best place to put a high-value tile?
On a double or triple letter square where it also makes a second word. A Z on a triple letter square that makes two words scores 60 points from the Z alone.
Last reviewed: October 2026.