Words With Friends uses its own game word list, so an entry in a general dictionary—or acceptance in another word game—does not guarantee that you can play it. In Words With Friends 2, use Word Strength to check whether a word is valid in the game. Zynga says its English list draws on the Oxford English Dictionary and contains more than 173,000 acceptable words, though it does not publish the full list or a versioned count.
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 describes the English list as containing more than 173,000 acceptable words. That is Zynga’s stated figure, not an independently verified exact count; the support page does not publish a complete, versioned list or a dated change log. Zynga Player Support’s Words With Friends Rule book
What kinds of words are allowed or excluded?
The English list is not limited to everyday vocabulary. Zynga says it accepts dictionary entries labeled as parts of speech, including words of foreign origin and entries marked archaic, obsolete, colloquial, or slang. Its stated exclusions are specific:
- Proper nouns
- Abbreviations
- Prefixes and suffixes used on their own
- Words that require a hyphen or apostrophe
A word’s appearance in another dictionary is not, by itself, proof that it qualifies under the game’s list and rules.
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How can you check whether a word is valid?
- In Words With Friends 2, use Word Strength. Zynga describes this feature as a way to check whether a formed word is valid in the game and how strong it is.
- Use the in-game Dictionary for definitions. It can help explain an unfamiliar English word; Word Strength is the feature Zynga identifies for checking play validity.
- Check the board as well as the word. A valid word by itself does not make every placement legal. The first play must cover the center star; later plays must connect to an existing word, and every word created by the placement must be valid.
One placement can form several new words, each scored separately. Using all seven rack tiles in a turn earns a 35-point bonus under the rule book. Zynga Player Support’s Words With Friends Rule book
Why might a word be rejected even if it appears in a dictionary?
The game checks against its active Words With Friends lexicon, not every word found in general reference works or other word-game lists. A word may also fall under one of Zynga’s stated exclusions. If the word is valid but the move still cannot be placed, check whether it connects correctly and whether it creates an invalid word across or down.
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- 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
Third-party checkers can be useful vocabulary references, but they are not authoritative for a move. For example, TilePlayCoach’s independent checker says its open reference list is not Zynga’s official list and may disagree, particularly around recent slang and short entries. Use the current in-game Word Strength feature to settle a disputed play.
Why might Words With Friends and Scrabble accept different words?
Different word games can use different lexicons and rules, so acceptance in Scrabble does not establish acceptance in Words With Friends, or vice versa. The available official rule book identifies Words With Friends’ source and exclusions but does not provide a complete current list for comparing individual entries across the games. Check the specific word in the game you are playing rather than assuming the lists match.
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- 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
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Does the word list change by language?
Yes. Zynga documents separate lists for English, British English, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, German, and French. Some language versions also handle tiles or diacritics differently. For example, the rule book says Spanish accepts Ñ and generally ignores diacritics, Italian omits J, K, W, X, and Y, and German accepts umlauts but represents ß as SS. Apply the rules for the language selected in your game, not the English list’s rules. Zynga Player Support’s Words With Friends Rule book
Quick Recap
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- 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!
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- 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.
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