How to play words containing O
O is one of the most common letters in English (1 point per tile). It is rarely the limiting factor in a word — the question is which other tiles you combine it with.
Every word in the list below contains the letter O and is valid in the English dictionary, sorted high-to-low by Scrabble score.
Where O earns its points
Look for openings where O lands on a double-letter or triple-letter square. With a common letter like O, the points come from the square it sits on, not the tile itself. A six-letter word can score 30+ points if O hits a triple-letter and another tile reaches a double-word.
When O is part of a longer word that reaches across two premium squares (for example, a triple-letter under O and a triple-word at the end), the bonuses multiply. Always check both ends of a candidate word, not just the high-value letter.
Common O-words worth memorising
The most useful O-words are short and high-frequency. Browse the top of this list for two- and three-letter entries you don't already know — they are the ones you will actually have a chance to play in real games.
Frequently asked questions
- How many English words contain the letter O?
- This page lists every English word in our dictionary that contains O, sorted by Scrabble score. The total is shown directly above the word grid.
- Is the letter O worth holding for a high-scoring play?
- Usually not. Common letters like O are easy to draw again, so playing them immediately is almost always the right move. Hold a tile only when you can see a specific, higher-scoring play within one or two turns.
- Can I use these in Words With Friends?
- Yes. Every word containing O on this page is valid in both Scrabble (TWL/SOWPODS) and Words With Friends.
- What is the highest-scoring O-word?
- The grid is sorted so the highest base-scoring words appear first. The actual highest-scoring play depends on the premium squares your word covers — a short O-word on a triple-word square often beats a long O-word in open space.