How to play words containing Q
Q is one of the four premium Scrabble tiles, worth 10 points all by itself. The trick with premium tiles is not to hoard them — every turn the tile sits in your rack is a turn you could have scored 20+ points from it.
Every word in the list below contains the letter Q and is valid in the English dictionary, sorted high-to-low by Scrabble score.
Where Q earns its points
Because Q is worth so much, every premium-square placement is amplified. Putting Q on a double-letter square turns it into 20 points from a single tile — already more than most full plays of common letters. Putting Q on a triple-letter square doubles that again. The board geometry matters more than the word length.
When Q is part of a longer word that reaches across two premium squares (for example, a triple-letter under Q 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 Q-words worth memorising
Q is the trickiest tile in the game because it almost always needs a U. The exceptions — QI, QAT, QADI, QOPH — are the most valuable words in tournament Scrabble. Learn them first.
Frequently asked questions
- How many English words contain the letter Q?
- This page lists every English word in our dictionary that contains Q, sorted by Scrabble score. The total is shown directly above the word grid.
- Is the letter Q worth holding for a high-scoring play?
- Only briefly. Premium tiles like Q lose value every turn they sit unplayed. If you can score 20+ points immediately with Q, take the play; only hold for one turn if you can see a 35+ point opportunity within reach.
- Can I use these in Words With Friends?
- Yes. Every word containing Q on this page is valid in both Scrabble (TWL/SOWPODS) and Words With Friends.
- What is the highest-scoring Q-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 Q-word on a triple-word square often beats a long Q-word in open space.