Word Checker
Check if a word is valid in Scrabble and other word games!
About the Word Checker
Dictionary used: This tool checks words against the Tournament Word List (TWL), which is the standard dictionary used in North American Scrabble tournaments.
Point values: If the word is valid, point values for Scrabble, Words With Friends, and Wordfeud are displayed based on each game's official letter scoring.
Case insensitive: You can type in any case; all lookups are automatically converted to uppercase.
Proper nouns: Proper nouns, abbreviations, and hyphenated words are generally not allowed in Scrabble-style games.
Settle disputes and verify words instantly. Type any word to check if it appears in the official Scrabble tournament dictionary. If the word is valid, you will also see its point value in Scrabble, Words With Friends, and Wordfeud.
Understanding Scrabble Dictionaries
One of the most common questions in word games is "Is that actually a word?" Our word checker gives you an instant answer by searching the official tournament word list. But the world of word game dictionaries is more nuanced than you might think.
NWL vs CSW: The Two Major Scrabble Dictionaries
There are two primary dictionaries used in competitive Scrabble worldwide:
- - NWL (NASPA Word List): Formerly known as TWL (Tournament Word List) or OWL (Official Word List). This is used in official North American Scrabble tournaments sanctioned by NASPA (North American Scrabble Players Association). It contains approximately 187,000 words and is generally considered the more conservative dictionary.
- - CSW (Collins Scrabble Words): Previously known as SOWPODS, this dictionary is used in international Scrabble tournaments outside North America and is sanctioned by WESPA (World English-Language Scrabble Players Association). It contains over 270,000 words, including all NWL words plus many additional entries from British, Australian, and international English.
Words With Friends Dictionary
Words With Friends uses its own proprietary dictionary based on the ENABLE (Enhanced North American Benchmark Lexicon) word list. This dictionary has some notable differences from both NWL and CSW. Some words that are valid in Scrabble are not accepted in WWF, and vice versa. Our checker uses the TWL/NWL-based list, so words marked as valid here will be accepted in North American Scrabble tournaments.
What Makes a Word Valid?
Official Scrabble dictionaries include common English words plus many less familiar terms. Words that are generally allowed include:
Allowed in Scrabble
- - Standard English words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)
- - Plural forms and verb conjugations
- - Archaic and obsolete words still in the dictionary
- - Informal and slang words that have entered the dictionary
- - Scientific and technical terms
- - Foreign loan words commonly used in English
Not Allowed in Scrabble
- - Proper nouns (names of people, places, brands)
- - Abbreviations and acronyms (NASA, TV, etc.)
- - Hyphenated words
- - Words requiring apostrophes
- - Prefixes and suffixes that are not standalone words
Commonly Challenged Words
Some words that surprise players by being valid include QI (a vital life force in Chinese philosophy), ZA (slang for pizza), XI (a Greek letter), CWMS (plural of cwm, a geological formation), and AA (a type of lava). Meanwhile, words like OK, DJ, and TV are not valid because they are considered abbreviations.
How Point Values Are Calculated
Each game assigns different point values to letters based on their frequency and difficulty of use. Our word checker shows you the base point value for each game -- the total you would earn by playing the word without any premium squares (double letter, triple word, etc.). Actual in-game scores depend on where you place the word on the board and which premium squares the letters land on.
Type a word above to check if it is valid and see its point values across all major word games!