Recommended Free Tools
Words With Friends uses its own game-specific word list, so a word appearing in a general dictionary—or being accepted by another word game—does not by itself prove it can be played. Zynga says its English list has more than 173,000 acceptable words and uses the Oxford English Dictionary as its source for words and definitions. To check a proposed move in Words With Friends 2, use the in-game Word Strength feature.
What dictionary does Words With Friends use?
Zynga says Words With Friends uses the Oxford English Dictionary as its source for English words and definitions. Its current support rule book states that the English list contains more than 173,000 acceptable words. Treat that as Zynga’s published figure, not an independently verified count: the rule book does not provide a full list, a lexicon version number, or a dated change log.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The game’s word list is broader than everyday vocabulary. Zynga says it accepts dictionary entries labeled as parts of speech, including foreign-origin, archaic, obsolete, colloquial, and slang words. A word can therefore be valid even if it is unfamiliar or rarely used.
Read Zynga’s Words With Friends Rule book.
What makes a word invalid?
Zynga lists these categories as excluded from the English word list:
#1 Best Overall
- Words with Friends Classic Game by Hasbro
- The popular mobile game comes to life!
- Ultimate play pack!
- Great for family game night!
- Proper nouns
- Abbreviations
- Prefixes and suffixes played on their own
- Words that require a hyphen or apostrophe
A familiar spelling or a dictionary definition is not enough to settle a disputed play. The active Words With Friends list determines whether the game accepts it.
How can I check a word in the game?
- In Words With Friends 2, form the word you want to play and use Word Strength to check whether it is valid and how strong it is. Zynga describes the feature as checking the validity and strength of a word formed in the game.
- Use the in-game Dictionary to search definitions of unfamiliar English words. A definition lookup is useful for meaning; Word Strength is the feature Zynga identifies for checking play validity.
The game’s checker is the practical authority for a proposed play. Zynga does not publish a complete, versioned list that would let a separate website guarantee it matches the current game.
Rank #2
- Classic work game features sleek folding carrying case with handle and two slide-and-store trays
- Colorful gameboard features recessed game spaces
- For 2 to 4 players
- Gameboard rotates with ease on six soft rubber wheels
- Includes deluxe carrying case with Scrabble gameboard and two slide-and-store trays, 100 wooden letter tiles, 4 deluxe curved tile racks, plush drawstring letter pouch and gameplay guide
Why might Words With Friends disagree with Scrabble or an outside checker?
Different games can use different active word lists, and a general dictionary lookup does not establish that a word is playable in Words With Friends. Do not assume a particular word differs between Scrabble and Words With Friends unless you check both games’ current lists.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Third-party word checkers can be convenient vocabulary references, but they may not match Zynga’s list. TilePlayCoach explicitly says its open reference list is not Zynga’s official list and warns that disagreements can occur, especially around recent slang and short entries. Check a disputed word with Word Strength in the game rather than treating an external result as a ruling.
Rank #3
- CLASSIC CROSSWORD GAME: Get family and friends together for a fun game night with the Scrabble board game! Put letters together, build words, and earn the most points to win
- WOODEN TILES AND RACKS: This edition of the Scrabble game features 100 wooden letter tiles and wooden tile racks. The textured gameboard helps tiles stay on the board
- RACK UP THE POINTS: Scrabble letters are worth points, and premium squares on the gameboard multiply the score. Surprise opponents with 2-letter words, challenge their choices, and strategize to win
- GAME FOR 2-4 PLAYERS: Go for classic Scrabble gameplay in a head-to-head face-off, or mix things up and play in teams. The game guide offers expert tips, and other ways to play this classic word game
- FUN FAMILY GAME: Do you remember playing Scrabble when you were a kid? Introduce this fun game to your kids and grandkids! Connect over a classic board game and create memories for generations to come
TilePlayCoach’s independent Words With Friends dictionary checker identifies itself as unaffiliated with Zynga.
Does the word list change with the game language?
Yes. Zynga documents separate Oxford-based lists for English, British English, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, German, and French. Rules for one language should not be assumed to apply to another.
Rank #4
- FUN FOR EVERYONE – Gather your family and friends with word games for adults and kids, and race against each other to build crossword grids. This anagram game that will drive you bananas.
- MAKES A GREAT GIFT – Bananagrams will make a thoughtful gift as family games for adults and children for your friends or family members. It is perfect for both boys and girls.
- GREAT FOR TRAVEL – Bananagrams comes in a fun banana-shaped case. This game doesn’t take much space like other family board games and brings tons of fun while traveling.
- PLEASE NOTE – Contains small parts, not for children under 3 years. Offering family games for kids and adults, or anyone 7 years and up. 1-8 players.
- ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL – While this game is easy to play, Bananagrams is also educational. Teach your kids how to spell words and have fun at the same time with letter games.
Some versions also handle tiles and diacritics differently. Zynga’s rule book notes, for example, that Spanish accepts Ñ and generally ignores diacritics; Italian omits J, K, W, X, and Y; and German accepts umlauts but represents ß as SS. For a non-English game, use the checker and rules for the selected language.
Can a valid word still make an illegal move?
Yes. Word validity is only one part of whether a board placement is legal. Zynga’s rules require the first play to cover the center star; later plays must connect to a word already on the board. If a placement creates an illegal neighboring word, the move cannot be made. When a play forms multiple new words, each is scored separately; using all seven rack tiles in a turn earns a 35-point bonus.
Best Value
- FAST-PACED FUN - Flip a card, think quickly, and race to grab the foam microphone to sing a lyric containing the revealed word. It's a fast-paced game that keeps everyone on their toes!
- HILARIOUS MOMENTS - Watch as your friends try to recall lyrics under pressure, resulting in hilarious renditions of popular songs. It's guaranteed to have everyone laughing and singing along!
- VERSATILE GAMEPLAY - Featuring a game board with multiple game modes, Grab The Mic offers various levels of challenge and keeps the fun fresh every time, Switch up the board for a new experience, creating endless musical battles that never get old!
- WHAT’S INSIDE - With 120 word cards, a foam microphone, game board, player tokens, and easy-to-follow instructions, everything you need for a memorable game night is included.
So if the game rejects a move, distinguish between a word the lexicon does not accept and a placement that fails the board rules. Check every word created by the placement, not just the main word.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
