Words Containing AV — Scrabble Word List & Strategy
AV is your key to unlocking the 4-point V tile. With around 500 valid words, the AV combination turns an awkward consonant into reliable scoring opportunities. From simple plays like HAVE and GAVE to premium words like SAVVY and HEAVY, knowing AV patterns means you'll never get stuck holding a V. The -AVE ending alone gives you dozens of options.
Top AV Words by Score
| # | Word | Points | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAVVY | 14 | Shrewdness or knowledge |
| 2 | HEAVY | 14 | Of great weight |
| 3 | GRAVY | 12 | Meat juice sauce |
| 4 | SHAVE | 11 | To remove hair |
| 5 | BRAVE | 10 | Showing courage |
| 6 | CRAVE | 10 | To desire intensely |
| 7 | WAVE | 10 | A moving swell |
| 8 | GRAVEL | 10 | Small loose stones |
| 9 | NAVY | 10 | A nation's fleet |
| 10 | CAVE | 9 | A natural hollow |
| 11 | HAVE | 10 | To possess |
500+
Valid AV words
10 pts
Average score
Moderate
Pair rarity
Strategy Tips for AV Words
The V tile is worth 4 points but only appears twice in the bag. AV is the most natural pairing since A is the most common vowel. The -AVE ending accepts many prefixes making it extremely flexible.
🎯 Key Takeaway
AV words are your best strategy for the 4-point V tile. The -AVE ending (HAVE, GAVE, SAVE, WAVE, BRAVE, CRAVE, SHAVE) is one of the most flexible patterns in Scrabble. With V worth 4 points, even simple AV words score 8-14 points consistently.
🔍 Find every AV 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 300→400 Point Gap
The difference between a 300-point game and a 400-point game comes down to vocabulary depth. Focused word study consistently outperforms relying on everyday vocabulary.
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.
Play each word mentally: For every new word you learn, visualise playing it on a board. Which premium squares could it reach? This builds game-ready recall.
Group by letter patterns: Organise study around patterns: words with double letters, words with PH, words ending in -TION. Pattern recognition fires faster than individual word recall.
Applying These Words in Real Games
🎮 Game-Ready Knowledge
A word you can recall in 2 seconds under clock pressure is worth more than 100 words you vaguely remember. Speed of recall is everything.
🧩 Practice Routine
What letters would it need to hook onto? Which existing words enable it?
Practice with your solver — enter random racks and check if you spot the best play before revealing it
Ask yourself: which premium squares could it reach from likely board positions?
Consider: how many tiles from a typical rack does this word consume?
📚 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
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