Words that end with Q are among the rarest in English, because the language writes that closing sound as ck or que instead. That is why back and plaque look the way they do.
The few exceptions are borrowed words, and they are worth knowing precisely because so few players remember them. UMIAQ is the highest scoring of them at 16 points in Scrabble, 18 in Words With Friends.
Each one carries its Scrabble and Words With Friends score, and there are few enough to memorise before your next game.
Top scoring words for their length
3 and 5 Letter Words That End With Q
- UMIAQ
- TRANQ
- SUQ
FAQs
1Why do almost no words end with Q?
English writes a final k sound as ck or que and almost never as a bare Q, so the letter closes nothing in the everyday vocabulary. The words that do end with it are borrowings.
2Which words end with Q?
SUQ, TRANQ and UMIAQ each end with the letter.
3How many points is the letter Q worth?
The letter Q is worth 10 points, and both games price it the same way. Whatever the rest of the word adds, that part of the score stays put.
4How do I score a Q that nothing will finish?
Start a word with it instead. A Q followed by a U turns the hardest letter in the game back into points, and far more words begin with Q than finish on one.