How to play words containing U
U 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 U and is valid in the French dictionary, sorted high-to-low by Scrabble score.
Where U earns its points
Look for openings where U lands on a double-letter or triple-letter square. With a common letter like U, the points come from the square it sits on, not the tile itself. A six-letter word can score 30+ points if U hits a triple-letter and another tile reaches a double-word.
When U is part of a longer word that reaches across two premium squares (for example, a triple-letter under U 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 U-words worth memorising
The most useful U-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 French words contain the letter U?
- This page lists every French word in our dictionary that contains U, sorted by Scrabble score. The total is shown directly above the word grid.
- Is the letter U worth holding for a high-scoring play?
- Usually not. Common letters like U 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 U on this page is valid in both Scrabble (French) and Words With Friends.
- What is the highest-scoring U-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 U-word on a triple-word square often beats a long U-word in open space.