Words Containing AU — Scrabble Word List & Strategy
AU is a versatile vowel pair that appears in over 800 valid Scrabble words. From everyday plays like CAUSE, FAULT, and HAUNT to scoring gems like GAUZE and JAUNT, mastering AU words helps you manage vowel-heavy racks while maintaining strong scores. Both A and U are common tiles (9 A's and 4 U's in the bag), so you'll encounter this pair frequently.
Top AU Words by Score
| # | Word | Points | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GAUZE | 15 | Thin transparent fabric |
| 2 | JAUNT | 12 | A short trip |
| 3 | HAIKU | 12 | Japanese poem form |
| 4 | FRAUD | 9 | Deliberate deception |
| 5 | VAULT | 8 | A secure room |
| 6 | FAULT | 8 | A defect or error |
| 7 | HAUNT | 8 | To visit as a ghost |
| 8 | FAUNA | 8 | Animal life of a region |
| 9 | CAUSE | 7 | A reason or motive |
| 10 | PAUSE | 7 | A brief stop |
| 11 | SAUCE | 7 | A liquid condiment |
800+
Valid AU words
8 pts
Average score
Common
Pair rarity
Strategy Tips for AU Words
AU excels at managing vowel-heavy racks. When you draw multiple vowels, AU words let you use two at once while still scoring well. The -AULT and -AUSE endings are especially productive.
🎯 Key Takeaway
AU appears in 800+ valid words and is your best tool for vowel-heavy racks. The -AULT pattern (FAULT, VAULT) and -AUSE ending (CAUSE, PAUSE) deliver consistent 7-8 point plays. Pair AU with high-value letters like Z (GAUZE) or J (JAUNT) for premium scores.
🔍 Find every AU word from your tiles — instant results, no signup
Open Word Finder →Why This Matters for Your Game
💡 Key Insight
Building a strong vocabulary is the single biggest predictor of Scrabble success. Players who know more valid words score 30-50% higher on average than those relying on common vocabulary alone. Every word you learn is a tool in your arsenal.
30%
Score improvement
5 min
Daily study needed
Free
No signup required
Whether you're preparing for tournament play or just want to beat your family at game night, the words on this page give you a competitive edge that compounds over time.
Quick Tips
Practice with the solver: Enter your rack tiles into our free word finder to discover every valid combination. Seeing all options trains your pattern recognition over time.
Memorise in groups: Rather than learning words randomly, study them by pattern — same prefix, same suffix, or same tile combination. Grouped learning is 3x more effective than isolated word lists.
Test yourself daily: Pick 5 words from this page each day and try to use them in practice games. Active recall beats passive reading for long-term retention.
📚 Explore More
Building Your Word Arsenal
🔑 The Key Insight
Words on this page represent a focused, high-value subset of the Scrabble dictionary that you can realistically memorise and deploy in competitive play.
Start with recognition: Identify which words you already know. Focus study time on unfamiliar ones — particularly those with high point values or unusual letter combinations.
Use spaced repetition: Review new words at increasing intervals: 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks. This locks words into long-term memory efficiently.
Study in themed batches: Focus one week on words ending in -ING, the next on Q-without-U words. Themed study creates stronger mental associations than random lists.
Applying These Words in Real Games
🧩 From Study to Board
The gap between study and play is filled by active visualisation. Mentally placing each word on a board during study builds the neural pathways that fire during games.
🧩 Practice Routine
If the answer is no, that word needs more active study time before moving on
Time yourself: can you spot this word within 30 seconds of seeing the tiles?
Take each word and mentally construct the rack you would need to play it
If you drew those tiles right now, would you recognise the word opportunity immediately?
📚 Sources & References
- • SOWPODS International Dictionary (267,751 words), Collins + TWL combined
- • Tournament Word List (TWL06), NASPA Word List Committee
- • Collins Scrabble Words (CSW), HarperCollins Publishers
- • Tile distribution & values per Hasbro official Scrabble rules
Loading comments...