Q words without U

Collins Scrabble® Words has 103 words with a Q that is never followed by a U. The ones worth learning first are QI, QAT, QIN, SUQ and the 4-letter words QADI, QAID, QOPH, FIQH, CINQ and WAQF.

The short ones to learn first

The Q is worth 10 points, and there is only one in the bag. Most players hold it waiting for a U, which often never comes. These short words let you play it straight away:

• QI
• QAT
• QIN
• QIS
• SUQ

QI is one of the most played words in competitive Scrabble. It fits almost anywhere next to an I, and on a triple-letter square that makes two words it scores 62 points before anything else is added.

What they mean

You don't need to know a meaning to play a word, but it helps them stick, and it settles challenges.

QI

life energy, in Chinese philosophy

QAT

a shrub whose leaves are chewed as a stimulant, also spelt KHAT

QIN

a Chinese zither

SUQ

an Arab marketplace, also spelt SOUK

CINQ

the number five in dice or cards

FIQH

Islamic jurisprudence

QADI

a judge in Islamic law

QAID

a Muslim leader or chief

QOPH

a letter of the Hebrew alphabet

WAQF

an Islamic charitable endowment

BURQA

a full-body covering worn by some Muslim women

FAQIR

a holy man, also spelt FAKIR

GUQIN

a seven-string Chinese zither

NIQAB

a face veil

QAJAQ

a kayak

QANAT

an underground irrigation channel

QAPIK

a coin of Azerbaijan

QIBLA

the direction of Mecca, faced in prayer

QORMA

a mild curry, also spelt KORMA

TALAQ

a form of divorce in Islamic law

TRANQ

informal for a tranquilliser

UMIAQ

an open Inuit boat

Every Q-without-U word, by length

2 letters (1)

• QI

3 letters (4)

• QAT
• QIN
• QIS
• SUQ

4 letters (9)

• CINQ
• FIQH
• QADI
• QAID
• QATS
• QINS
• QOPH
• SUQS
• WAQF

5 letters (18)

• BURQA
• CINQS
• FAQIR
• FIQHS
• GUQIN
• NIQAB
• QADIS
• QAIDS
• QAJAQ
• QANAT
• QAPIK
• QIBLA
• QOPHS
• QORMA
• TALAQ
• TRANQ
• UMIAQ
• WAQFS

6 letters (24)

BUQSHA, BURQAS, FAQIRS, GUQINS, NIQAAB, NIQABS, QABALA, QAJAQS, QANATS, QAPIKS, QASIDA, QAWWAL, QIBLAS, QIGONG, QINDAR, QINTAR, QIVIUT, QORMAS, QWERTY, SHEQEL, TALAQS, TRANQS, UMIAQS, YAQONA

7 letters (19)

BUQSHAS, INQILAB, KAMOTIQ, NIQAABS, QABALAH, QABALAS, QAMUTIK, QASIDAS, QAWWALI, QAWWALS, QIGONGS, QINDARS, QINTARS, QIVIUTS, QWERTYS, SHEQELS, TSADDIQ, TZADDIQ, YAQONAS

8 letters (17)

INQILABS, KAMOTIQS, MBAQANGA, MUQADDAM, QABALAHS, QABALISM, QABALIST, QAIMAQAM, QALAMDAN, QAMUTIKS, QAWWALIS, QINDARKA, QINTARKA, QWERTIES, SHEQALIM, TSADDIQS, TZADDIQS

9 letters (9)

MBAQANGAS, MUQADDAMS, QABALISMS, QABALISTS, QAIMAQAMS, QALAMDANS, QINGHAOSU, TSADDIQIM, TZADDIQIM

10 letters (2)

QABALISTIC, QINGHAOSUS

Playing the Q

• Learn QI, QAT, QIN and SUQ first. Between them they cover most Q plays without a U.
• Watch the I tiles. There are nine. As long as one is on the board with space beside it, QI is available.
• Don't hold the Q to the end. If it is still on your rack when someone goes out, you lose 10 points and they gain 10. An exchange is often better.
• Plurals count. QIS, QATS, QINS, SUQS and QADIS are all valid, so an S can hook onto these words later.

For other high-value letters, see short J, X and Z words. For every short word, see two-letter words.

Collins and the North American list

This list follows Collins Scrabble Words, the official list in the UK and in international play. The North American list is shorter. The common short words such as QI, QAT, QADI, QAID and QOPH are valid in both, but some of the rarer words here are Collins-only. Agree on the word list before you play.

Last reviewed: October 2026.