Mots gagnants au Scrabble (Q) sans U
A Q without a U is playable more often than it looks. Start by checking for QI; then look for compact options such as QAT, QIS, QADI, QAID, QOPH, FAQIR, QANAT, et TRANQ—but confirm the word against the dictionary used by your game.
That last point matters. North American tournament Scrabble currently uses NWL2023, international tournament play uses Collins Scrabble Words 2024 (CSW24), et Words With Friends maintains a separate in-game word list. Many useful Q-without-U words overlap, but some do not.
Dictionary rules can change. A word accepted in North American Scrabble may be rejected in Words With Friends, while Collins includes several short forms absent from both. For an actual game, use the designated tournament checker or the current in-game dictionary as the final authority. Last verified: October 5, 2026.
Quick Answer by Length
The table below covers the high-priority words most players need first. “Valid” means accepted in the named lexicon as of the verification date.
| Length | Mot | North American Scrabble | Collins/International Scrabble | Words With Friends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | QI | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 3 | QAT | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 3 | QIS | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 4 | QADI | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 4 | QAID | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 4 | QATS | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 4 | QOPH | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 5 | FAQIR | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 5 | QADIS | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 5 | QAIDS | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 5 | QANAT | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 5 | QOPHS | Valid | Valid | Valid |
| 5 | TRANQ | Valid | Valid | Valid |
If you need only one emergency word, learn QI. It is the sole two-letter Q word in all three checked lexicons and can often be fitted into a crowded board position.
Complete 2-Letter List
This and the following tables are exhaustive for words of two through five letters that contain Q and no U in at least one of the three checked game lexicons. “No” does not mean the spelling is not an English word; it means that lexicon does not currently allow it.
| Mot | Letters | Plain-English definition | Dictionary status | Tactical note and verified hooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QI | 2 | Vital energy or life force in Chinese philosophy and related traditions. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | The first escape to check because it needs one companion tile or an I already on the board. QIS is valid in all three; QIN is an additional Collins-only right hook. |
Complete 3-Letter List
| Mot | Letters | Plain-English definition | Dictionary status | Tactical note and verified hooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QAT | 3 | A shrub native to parts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, or its stimulant leaves and shoots. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | A dependable short Q dump when A and T are available. Takes S to make QATS in all three. |
| QIN | 3 | A Chinese stringed instrument related to the zither. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Valuable in Collins play, especially because it can be built from QI. Takes S to make QINS in Collins. |
| QIS | 3 | The plural of QI: vital energies or life forces. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | Often made by adding S to an existing QI or by playing Q onto IS. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
Complete 4-Letter List
| Mot | Letters | Plain-English definition | Dictionary status | Tactical note and verified hooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CINQ | 4 | Five, especially the five on a card or die; a word adopted from French. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Useful when Q cannot begin the play. Takes S to make CINQS in both Scrabble lexicons. |
| FIQH | 4 | Islamic jurisprudence: the study and interpretation of Islamic law. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | A Collins-only option that uses the awkward F-H combination with Q. Takes S to make FIQHS in Collins. |
| QADI | 4 | A judge who administers or interprets Islamic law. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | Useful when the rack contains common A, D, and I support tiles. Takes S to make QADIS in all three. |
| QAID | 4 | A chief, governor, local administrator, or official, especially in historical North African usage. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | An anagram of QADI, so test both board alignments. Takes S to make QAIDS in all three. |
| QATS | 4 | Plural of QAT: qat shrubs, leaves, or shoots. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | Often easiest as an S hook on QAT. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
| QINS | 4 | Plural of QIN, the Chinese stringed instrument. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Collins-only and most practical as an S extension of QIN. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
| QOPH | 4 | The nineteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | Its unusual vowel pattern can rescue a rack containing O and H. Takes S to make QOPHS in all three. |
| WAQF | 4 | An Islamic endowment in which property or its benefit is dedicated to a charitable or religious purpose. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | A strong Collins-only way to use Q with W and F. Takes S to make WAQFS in Collins. |
Complete 5-Letter List
| Mot | Letters | Plain-English definition | Dictionary status | Tactical note and verified hooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CINQS | 5 | Plural of CINQ: fives, such as cards or dice showing five. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Usually appears as an S hook on CINQ. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
| FAQIR | 5 | A Muslim mendicant or dervish; the word can also refer to an itinerant Hindu ascetic. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | A useful five-letter Q word when F and R are available. Takes S to make FAQIRS in all three. |
| FIQHS | 5 | Plural of FIQH: systems, bodies, or studies of Islamic jurisprudence. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Most naturally played as an S hook on FIQH in Collins. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
| NIQAB | 5 | A face veil worn by some Muslim women that leaves the eyes visible. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Places Q in the middle rather than at the start. Takes S to make NIQABS in both Scrabble lexicons. |
| QADIS | 5 | Plural of QADI: judges in Islamic law. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | A verified S extension of QADI. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
| QAIDS | 5 | Plural of QAID: chiefs, governors, or officials. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | A verified S extension of QAID. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
| QAJAQ | 5 | A traditional Inuit or Greenlandic kayak; an Indigenous spelling related to KAYAK. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Non | One of the rare short words containing two Qs. Takes S to make QAJAQS in both Scrabble lexicons. |
| QANAT | 5 | An underground, gently sloping aqueduct that carries groundwater by gravity, especially for irrigation in arid regions. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | A practical five-letter play with common support tiles. Takes S to make QANATS in all three. |
| QAPIK | 5 | A monetary subunit of the Azerbaijani manat. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Useful when Q is paired with K. Takes S to make QAPIKS in both Scrabble lexicons. |
| QIBLA | 5 | The direction of the Kaaba in Mecca toward which Muslims face during prayer. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Non | A middle-vowel Q play that can fit lanes unavailable to Q-starting forms. Takes S to make QIBLAS in both Scrabble lexicons. |
| QEEMA | 5 | Minced meat or a spiced minced-meat dish in South Asian cookery; a variant of KEEMA. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Added to CSW24, so older Collins lists may omit it. Takes S to make QEEMAS in Collins. |
| QOPHS | 5 | Plural of QOPH: instances or forms of the nineteenth Hebrew letter. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | Commonly made by adding S to QOPH. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
| QORMA | 5 | A variant spelling of KORMA, a South Asian dish of meat or vegetables cooked in a seasoned sauce. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | A Collins-only option with Q followed by O. Takes S to make QORMAS in Collins. |
| TALAQ | 5 | A form or declaration of divorce under Islamic law. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Useful because Q ends the word rather than beginning it. Takes S to make TALAQS in Collins. |
| TRANQ | 5 | An informal shortening of TRANQUILIZER; it is also used for the veterinary sedative xylazine in current drug-related contexts. | North American: Valid Collins: Valid WWF: Valid | A rare Q-ending escape that can use an existing T, R, A, or N lane. Takes S to make TRANQS in all three. |
| WAQFS | 5 | Plural of WAQF: charitable or religious endowments. | North American: Non Collins: Valid WWF: Non | Usually formed by adding S to WAQF in Collins. No one-letter front or back hook was found in the checked lists. |
Important Q Words
QI
QI, pronounced roughly “chee,” refers to vital energy or life force in Chinese philosophy. It matters because it is the shortest legal Q word in NWL2023, CSW24, and Words With Friends.
On the board, first scan for an exposed I that can accept Q beside it, or a square where QI can run parallel to an existing word without creating an invalid cross-word. QIS is the standard S extension in all three lexicons. Collins players also have QIN, but it is a separate word meaning a Chinese stringed instrument—not a plural of QI.
QAT
QAT is a shrub, or its stimulant leaves and shoots, associated with parts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is accepted in all three checked word lists.
QAT is especially useful when your tile rack contains A and T but no I for QI. It takes an S in every checked lexicon, so an existing QAT may later become QATS; before leaving that hook available, consider whether your opponent can exploit it more effectively than you can.
QIS
QIS is the plural of QI. It is legal in North American Scrabble, Collins Scrabble, and Words With Friends.
Its main value is flexibility: add S to QI, place Q before an existing IS where the board permits, or use QIS in a tight three-square lane. Do not confuse it with QINS, the plural of Collins-only QIN.
QADI
A QADI is a judge who interprets or administers Islamic law. QADI is valid in all three checked lexicons and takes S to form QADIS.
QADI matters because its support letters are common and because it has the same letters as QAID. When one spelling will not fit the board, test the other ordering before exchanging or passing.
QAID
A QAID is a chief, governor, administrator, or official, particularly in historical North African contexts. It is valid in all three checked lexicons, with QAIDS as its regular plural.
The tactical lesson is simple: QADI and QAID are anagrams, but their letter order creates different hooks and cross-checks. If a board line provides _AID, QAID may solve the Q immediately; if it provides _ADI, QADI may fit instead.
QOPH
QOPH is the nineteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. QOPH and its plural QOPHS are accepted in NWL2023, CSW24, and Words With Friends.
It is useful when the rack’s only workable support letters are O, P, and H. Because the word ends in H, it can reach a premium square or fit a cross-check pattern that QI and QAT cannot, but avoid forcing it when a shorter Q dump preserves a better rack.
FAQIR
A FAQIR is a Muslim mendicant or dervish; the spelling can also denote an itinerant Hindu ascetic. It is valid in all three checked lexicons, and FAQIRS is the verified plural.
FAQIR is longer than the emergency two- and three-letter plays, so it needs more board space. Its practical advantage is converting an awkward F-Q pairing into one word, particularly when an existing A, I, or R supplies part of the pattern.
QANAT
A QANAT is an underground aqueduct that uses a gentle slope to carry groundwater by gravity, traditionally serving communities and irrigation in arid regions. QANAT is accepted in all three checked lexicons and takes S to form QANATS.
It is worth learning because A, A, N, and T are much easier to assemble than the support letters of many obscure Q words. Check it whenever the board provides ANAT, Q_NAT, or another compatible cross-check pattern.
TRANQ
TRANQ, pronounced like “trank,” is an informal shortening of tranquilizer. In current usage it can also refer to xylazine, but the word-game entry is broader than that single drug context.
TRANQ is valid in all three checked lexicons, and TRANQS is valid as its plural or inflected form. Its Q-at-the-end shape is tactically distinctive: it can solve a rack when the left side of a lane is open but a Q-starting word will not fit.
How to Play Q Without U
Check the shortest exits
Look for QI first whenever the rack contains Q and I. Then scan for QAT et QIS. Short legal words are often more valuable than long theoretical finds because they fit crowded board positions, create fewer cross-words to validate, and can dispose of the high-value tile without wrecking rack balance.
Use board letters
Do not limit the search to letters on your rack. An I already on the board can complete QI with only the Q from your rack; an exposed AT can turn Q into QAT; and the right four-letter pattern can enable QADI, QAID, or QOPH.
Parallel play can be especially effective. Place a short Q word beside an existing word so that each newly placed tile forms a valid perpendicular word, but check every cross-word before committing.
Respect premium access
A triple-letter score under Q can make a compact play attractive, while a double-word score can reward a longer form. The best move is not automatically the move with the largest immediate total, however.
Before opening a premium lane, ask what the opponent gains next turn. A modest Q dump that closes the board, preserves flexible tiles, or avoids exposing a triple-word lane can be strategically better than a flashier play that gives away an easy response.
Learn the S hooks
Un S hook adds S to the front or back of an existing word to form another legal word. For the core Q-without-U set, remember these verified extensions:
- QI → QIS in all three lexicons
- QAT → QATS in all three lexicons
- QADI → QADIS in all three lexicons
- QAID → QAIDS in all three lexicons
- QOPH → QOPHS in all three lexicons
- FAQIR → FAQIRS in all three lexicons
- QANAT → QANATS in all three lexicons
- TRANQ → TRANQS in all three lexicons
Dictionary-specific S hooks include QIN → QINS, FIQH → FIQHS, WAQF → WAQFS, QEEMA → QEEMAS, QORMA → QORMAS, et TALAQ → TALAQS in Collins. Never assume that an S extension transfers to another game merely because the root word looks familiar.
Make rack-and-board decisions
Example 1: QI or a speculative setup. Your rack is AEFIQRT, and an I on the board has an open square beside it. Playing only Q to form QI clears the problem tile while retaining AEFIRT, a much more workable leave than holding Q for an uncertain premium-square opportunity.
Example 2: QADI versus QAID. Your rack contains ADINQST, and the board offers a four-square lane with cross-checks that allow either _ADI or _AID. Test QADI and QAID separately: the anagrams use the same rack tiles, but only one ordering may satisfy every perpendicular word or avoid opening a dangerous lane.
Example 3: Control over raw points. Your rack can make QAT near the centre, while a longer Q word would extend toward an open triple-word lane. The shorter QAT may be the stronger choice if it removes Q, keeps useful letters, and denies the opponent easy premium access. Immediate score is only one part of board value.
Scrabble vs. Words With Friends
| Question | North American Scrabble | Collins/International Scrabble | Words With Friends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which word list applies? | NASPA Word List 2023 for current US and Canadian tournament play. | Collins Scrabble Words 2024 for WESPA-style international play, including common UK and New Zealand competitive contexts. | Zynga’s separate English in-game word list. |
| Why can validity differ? | Its editorial scope and inclusion rules are specific to North American tournament Scrabble. | It combines broad international English coverage with Scrabble-specific selection rules, producing a larger set of regional and borrowed forms. | It is maintained for the app and can include or omit words independently of Scrabble lexicons. |
| How should a word be checked? | Use the official tournament adjudication tool or the exact NWL edition named by the event. | Use a CSW24-compatible checker or the adjudication method named by the event. | Enter the proposed play in the current app or use its current dictionary/word-strength feature. |
| Why avoid old generic lists? | They may still label NWL2020 or an older TWL/OTCWL list as current. | A CSW21 page can miss CSW24 additions such as QEEMA. | Community lists may reflect an old ENABLE-derived file rather than the live app dictionary. |
| What changes strategically? | Legal vocabulary, board position, rack leave, and the opponent’s likely reply determine the best Q dump. | Extra short options such as QIN, FIQH, and WAQF create more escape routes. | Use the app’s own acceptance rules; do not transfer a Collins-only play into WWF simply because it works in international Scrabble. |
A Scrabble dictionary and a Words With Friends dictionary are not interchangeable. A word finder, anagram solver, ou décrypteur de mots is useful only when it is set to the correct game and current lexicon.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming every Q-no-U word works everywhere. QI transfers across all three checked lexicons, but QIN, FIQH, and WAQF are Collins-only among these short entries.
- Confusing QADI and QAID. QADI is a judge in Islamic law; QAID is a chief, governor, or official. Both are legal in all three checked word lists, but they are not spelling variants of the same definition.
- Relying on an old edition. NWL2020, CSW21, and undated WWF lists can produce stale answers; CSW24, for example, added QEEMA.
- Treating a third-party list as final authority. Solvers can lag behind dictionary updates or mislabel the lexicon they use. In a tournament, follow the designated adjudication system; in WWF, trust the current game.
- Forgetting plurals and S hooks. QIS, QATS, QADIS, QAIDS, and QOPHS can rescue a turn or create a higher-value extension, but only when the resulting word is legal in that game.
- Defining borrowed words carelessly. QADI, WAQF, FIQH, QIBLA, NIQAB, and TALAQ name distinct cultural, legal, or religious concepts. Accurate definitions help defend a challenged play and avoid flattening different ideas into stereotypes.
- Chasing the Q bonus while opening the board. A premium-square play can still be strategically poor if it creates an easy triple-word lane for the opponent.
Foire aux questions
What is the shortest Q word without U in Scrabble?
QI is the shortest: it has two letters and is valid in NWL2023 and CSW24. It is also accepted in Words With Friends. There is no one-letter word in standard play and no other two-letter Q word in the three checked lexicons.
What are 5-letter words with Q but no U?
Words valid in all three checked games include FAQIR, QADIS, QAIDS, QANAT, QOPHS, et TRANQ. North American and Collins Scrabble also accept CINQS, NIQAB, QAJAQ, QAPIK, et QIBLA, while Collins adds FIQHS, QEEMA, QORMA, TALAQ, et WAQFS. Always use the list for your game.
Is QAT a valid Scrabble word?
Yes. QAT is valid in both NWL2023 North American Scrabble and CSW24 international Scrabble. It is also valid in Words With Friends, and QATS is accepted in all three.
What words start with Q without U?
The most useful shared examples are QI, QAT, QIS, QADI, QAID, QATS, QOPH, QADIS, QAIDS, QANAT, et QOPHS. Collins also permits short Q-starting forms such as QIN, QINS, QEEMA, et QORMA, while some additional forms are shared only by the two Scrabble lexicons.
Is QI allowed in Scrabble and Words With Friends?
Yes. QI is accepted in NWL2023, CSW24, and Words With Friends. Its plural QIS is also accepted in all three.
Are Q-without-U words valid in every Scrabble dictionary?
No. Collins has short forms such as QIN, FIQH, WAQF, QEEMA, QORMA, et TALAQ that are not accepted in NWL2023. Words With Friends uses a separate list again, so verify the exact game before playing or challenging.
How can I get rid of a Q tile without a U?
Scan for an I to make QI, then check QAT, QIS, QADI, QAID, et QOPH. Use letters already on the board, test parallel plays, and prefer a safe short dump when a longer move would open a strong scoring lane for the opponent.
Keep the Rack Moving
Still stuck with a mixed rack? Enter your letters into the Démêleur de mots to find playable words by length, uncover anagrams, and spot possible Q dumps before your turn runs out.