On family game nights, the key to triple-digit Scrabble scores is not necessarily in knowing the most words, but in knowing the right words. Each Scrabble tile has a different value, and players want to be able to come up with words that use the highest point values. Scrabble tiles are distributed across the alphabet as such:
1 point: E, A, I, O, N, R, T, L, S, U
2 points: D, G
3 points: B, C, M, P
4 points: F, H, V, W, Y
5 points: K
8 points: J, X
10 points: Q, Z
Below, we’ve compiled a list of words that include some of the highest-scoring letters. Learning a bit about the meaning and history of them might help you remember the words the next time you’re wondering how to play a “Q,” “K,” and “Z” before the Scrabble game ends.
Fez
For 15 points, try “fez,” which is a traditional Turkish hat that usually comes in red. The word originated in 1802 as a French spelling of the Turkish fes, which likely comes from Fez, the city in Morocco where the tasseled caps were largely produced. It was made part of the official Turkish dress by Sultan Mahmud II. On a Scrabble board, it breaks down to 4 (F) + 1 (E) + 10 (Z) = 15.
Pyx
POV: It’s nearing the end of the game, there are no vowels left, and you’re stuck with “P” (3), “X” (8), and “Y” (4). You’d hate to have those 15 points subtracted from your score when all is said and done, but luckily you know about “pyx.” This three-letter word refers to a box used to hold something sacred, such as the Eucharist. It originated in 1400 from the Greek pyxis, meaning “box-wood; a box.”
Fozy
Even before you place the tiles on any double-letter squares, this four-letter word is worth 19 points: 4 (F) + 1 (O) + 10 (Z) + 4 (Y). “Fozy” is a Scottish dialectical word meaning “spongy, loose-textured.” The OED dates its earliest use to 1825.
Quaky
Scrabble players are always looking for more ways to utilize that tricky “Q” tile, and this five-letter word packs a punch. Totaling 21 points, it breaks down to 10 (Q) + 1 (U) + 1 (A) + 5 (K) + 4 (Y). This adjective is a variation of the word “quake,” meaning “inclined to shake, twitch, or tremble.”
Zinky
The periodic table has some great inspiration for the Scrabble board. This five-letter adjective describes anything containing or resembling the element zinc. It can also be spelled “zincy” or “zincky,” according to the OED, so you have some options for your tiles. Spelled “zinky,” it racks up 21 points: 10 (Z) + 1 (I) + 1 (N) + 5 (K) + 4 (Y).
Zaxes
Forget “faxes” — here’s a bigger bang for your buck. This word is so obscure, there’s not even a listing in the OED for it, but it is in the Official Scrabble Dictionary. It’s a plural variation of “zax,” which is a small ax used for cutting roof slates. You don’t have to be a roofer to earn the 21 points from this word: 10 (Z) + 1 (A) + 8 (X) + 1 (E) + 1 (S).