You're sitting there, staring at a wooden rack of seven tiles. Your opponent just dropped a massive word on a Triple Word Score, and honestly, you feel like you're drowning. Your hand is a mess. You’ve got a bunch of vowels, maybe a stray consonant, and then there it is—the X. It’s the letter everyone claims to want because of that juicy 8-point value, but when it actually shows up, most people panic. They look for "Xylophone" or "Exhaust" and realize they don't have the space or the letters to make it happen. This is exactly where 2 letter words with an x come in to save your life.
It's about survival.
Most casual players don't realize that the "X" is often more powerful as a short-form tool than as a long-form centerpiece. If you can tuck an X onto a bonus square using only one other letter, you aren't just scoring points; you’re effectively stealing the momentum of the entire game. We’ve all been there, sweating over a board that feels too crowded to move. That's when these tiny powerhouses become the most important tools in your arsenal.
The Big Three: AX, EX, and OX
In the world of competitive Scrabble and Words With Friends, there are three primary pillars you need to memorize. They are legal in almost every major dictionary, including the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD) and the Collins Scrabble Words (CSW) list.
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AX is the one everyone knows. It’s a tool for chopping wood. Simple. But in a game, it's a bridge. If you have an A on the board near a Triple Letter score, dropping that X next to it is an instant 24 points for basically zero effort.
Then you have EX. No, we aren’t talking about your former partner, though that’s an easy way to remember it. In the dictionary, "EX" is actually a noun referring to the letter X itself. It’s also used in some contexts as a prefix, but for the sake of the game, it’s a standalone noun. This is probably the most frequently played X-word because the letter E is the most common tile in the bag. If you can’t find a place for an E, you aren't looking hard enough.
Finally, there’s OX. It’s a large bovine. You know this. It’s straightforward, it’s reliable, and it’s a lifesaver when you’re stuck with an O and a high-value tile that you just need to dump before the game ends.
The Outsiders: XI and XU
Now, if you want to sound like a pro—or at least someone who didn't just walk into the room—you have to know the "weird" ones. These are the words that make your opponent pause the game and reach for the rulebook.
XI is a Greek letter. Specifically, it’s the 14th letter of the Greek alphabet. It sounds like "ksy" or "zy," but in Scrabble, it’s just two letters of pure point-scoring joy. Because "I" is such a versatile vowel, XI allows you to play the X vertically or horizontally across tight spaces where an A or an O wouldn't fit.
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Then there is XU. This one is a bit more obscure. A "XU" is a monetary unit of Vietnam. It takes 100 xu to make one dong. While the currency itself might not be something you use at your local grocery store, the word is a certified legal play in tournament Scrabble. Honestly, having a U is usually a bit of a burden in Scrabble unless you have a Q, but if you have the X and a U, you’ve suddenly turned two "clunky" letters into a strategic strike.
Why Short Words Win Games
It sounds counterintuitive. Why would you want to play a two-letter word when you could try for a five-letter one? The math is why.
Imagine you place the X on a Triple Letter score. That’s 24 points ($8 \times 3$). If that X is part of a two-letter word going horizontally and a two-letter word going vertically, you score that 24 points twice. That’s 48 points plus the value of the other two letters. All for using one tile from your rack.
You see, 2 letter words with an x aren't just about clearing your rack. They are about "parallel plays." Expert players like Nigel Richards—often cited as the greatest Scrabble player of all time—don't just look for long words. They look for the highest point-per-tile ratio. Richards once famously won the French Scrabble Championship without speaking French, purely by memorizing the letter combinations and understanding the geometry of the board. He knew that the X is a tactical weapon, not just a letter.
Common Misconceptions About the X
A lot of people think you can play "XY." You can't. It's not a word. Don't try it; you'll lose your turn and probably the respect of your friends. People also try to play "XA" or "XE." Neither of those are valid in standard English Scrabble dictionaries. Stick to the five: AX, EX, OX, XI, and XU.
Another mistake is holding onto the X for too long. Players get greedy. They wait for that perfect Triple Word score that never comes. Meanwhile, the board closes up, the game ends, and they’re left holding an 8-point tile that gets subtracted from their final score. That’s a 16-point swing! If you see a spot for 2 letter words with an x, take it.
Breaking Down the Strategy by Vowel
The trick to mastering these words is knowing which vowels you have left in the "pool." There are more Es than any other letter, so EX should always be in the back of your mind.
- The A factor: If you see an A open on the board, look for an adjacent spot for your X to create AX.
- The I/U rarity: Keep in mind that there are fewer Is and Us than Es and Os. If you have an I or a U on your rack, your options for the X are limited to XI and XU.
- The O backup: OX is your safety net. It’s the easiest one to spot because the O is such a distinctive shape on the board.
Nuance and Complexity: The Dictionary Debate
It’s worth noting that Scrabble dictionaries aren't universal. If you’re playing a casual game at home, you’re likely using the Merriam-Webster Scrabble Dictionary. If you’re in a tournament in the US, it’s the NASSCU (North American Scrabble Players Association) list. If you’re in the UK, you’re using Collins.
The good news? All five of these words—AX, EX, OX, XI, and XU—are generally accepted across all of them. This makes them some of the safest "high-value" plays in the game. However, always clarify with your opponent before the first tile is placed. There's nothing worse than a mid-game argument over Vietnamese currency units.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Game
If you want to actually improve your score tonight, don't just memorize the list. Practice seeing the board differently.
- Scan for the Vowels: Instead of looking for where your "big word" fits, look for every A, E, I, O, and U currently on the board that has an open square next to it.
- The "L" Shape: Look for opportunities to play the X so that it creates a word both horizontally and vertically. This is called a "cross-word" play and it's how you break the 40-point mark with just two letters.
- Dump Early: If you reach the mid-game and the board is getting crowded, use your X immediately. An EX for 16 points is better than an X in your hand at the end of the game for minus 8.
- Don't Fear the Challenge: If someone plays XU and you didn't know it was a word, don't challenge it unless you're 100% sure. They’re probably right, and you’ll just lose your turn.
Basically, the X is only a burden if you don't know the shortcuts. Once you have 2 letter words with an x burned into your brain, that 8-point tile stops being a problem and starts being your favorite letter in the bag. Go ahead and look for that XI or that XU. Your score will thank you.
Next time you open the game, try to find a spot for one of these five words before you even look at your long-form options. You'll find that controlling the small spaces on the board is often more effective than swinging for the fences with a seven-letter word you might never find the space for. Focus on the geometry, keep the vowels in mind, and stop fearing the X. It's the most versatile tile you have if you know how to use it. Stick to the Big Three and the two "weird" ones, and you'll be fine.