Internet Slang Words in Scrabble — Which Are Valid?
The internet has given us hundreds of new words — but how many can you actually play in Scrabble? We checked every popular slang term against both SOWPODS and TWL dictionaries. Here's the definitive list.
Valid in Scrabble (Yes, play these!)
EMOJI (18 pts)
Valid in SOWPODS. A small digital image. Added 2019.
SELFIE (9 pts)
Valid in SOWPODS. A self-portrait photograph. Added 2014.
MEME (8 pts)
Valid in both SOWPODS and TWL. Originally coined by Richard Dawkins in 1976.
VIBE (9 pts)
Valid in both dictionaries. A feeling or atmosphere.
GHOST (9 pts)
Valid as a verb (to ghost someone). Both dictionaries.
FLEX (14 pts)
Valid in both. To show off — and a high-scoring X word!
SALTY (8 pts)
Valid in both. Means bitter or upset in slang, but it's a standard English adjective.
TOXIC (14 pts)
Valid in both. Standard English — the slang usage is just a new meaning.
CRINGE (9 pts)
Valid in both dictionaries. Standard verb, modern adjective usage.
BINGE (8 pts)
Valid in both. To indulge excessively (binge-watch came later).
NOT Valid in Scrabble (Don't try these)
YEET
Not in any official dictionary. Too new/informal.
RIZZ
Not valid. Slang for charisma. Oxford Word of the Year 2023 but not in Scrabble dictionaries.
BUSSIN
Not valid. Slang for "really good." No dictionary entry.
FOMO
Not valid. Abbreviation (Fear Of Missing Out). Abbreviations aren't allowed.
TLDR
Not valid. Abbreviation (Too Long; Didn't Read).
IMO
Not valid. Abbreviation (In My Opinion).
SIMP
Not valid in Scrabble dictionaries. Internet slang only.
SLAY (as internet slang)
Actually VALID (7 pts)! The word SLAY exists in both dictionaries — the slang meaning is just new usage of an existing word.
STAN
Not valid. Derived from Eminem song. Not in official word lists.
KAREN
Not valid. Proper noun (a name). Proper nouns are never allowed.
CHAD
Actually VALID (10 pts)! CHAD means a small piece of paper from a hole punch. It's in both dictionaries.
WIFI / LYFT / UBER
Not valid. Brand names and technology terms not in dictionaries.
TWERK / ZOOMER / BOOMER
BOOMER is valid (9 pts — one who booms)! TWERK and ZOOMER are not.
The Rule: Why Some Slang Gets In
Key Insight
Words get added to Scrabble dictionaries when they appear in major published dictionaries (Collins, Merriam-Webster, Chambers). The process takes 5-10 years from popular usage to official Scrabble validity. Abbreviations, proper nouns, and brand names are permanently excluded regardless of popularity.
Pro tip: Many "slang" words are actually valid because they have older, standard meanings. GHOST (a verb since the 1600s), FLEX (to bend), SALTY (containing salt), TOXIC (poisonous), CRINGE (to shrink back) — all entered dictionaries long before their internet meanings.
Quick Reference Table
| Word | SOWPODS | TWL | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEME | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| EMOJI | Yes | No | 18 |
| SELFIE | Yes | No | 9 |
| VIBE | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| FLEX | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| GHOST | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| CRINGE | Yes | Yes | 9 |
| TOXIC | Yes | Yes | 14 |
| SALTY | Yes | Yes | 8 |
| BOOMER | Yes | Yes | 10 |
| YEET | No | No | — |
| RIZZ | No | No | — |
| BUSSIN | No | No | — |
| FOMO | No | No | — |
| SIMP | No | No | — |
| STAN | No | No | — |
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