Scrabble Words Ending in AA
Updated June 22, 2026 · 3 min read
Double-A endings are exotic in English — nearly all come from loanwords. In Scrabble, these AA-enders help you clear duplicate A tiles while scoring respectable points. Here's the complete list.
Valid AA words
Top scorer (KRAAL)
A tiles cleared per word
Complete AA-Ending Word List
| Word | Points | Dictionary | Origin & Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRAAL | 9 | TWL + SOWPODS | Afrikaans — a livestock enclosure |
| SALAAM | 8 | TWL + SOWPODS | Arabic — a greeting of peace |
| BAAL | 6 | TWL + SOWPODS | Semitic — a false god or idol |
| NAAN | 4 | TWL + SOWPODS | Hindi — a type of flatbread |
| NAAM | 6 | SOWPODS | Afrikaans — seizure of property |
| TAAL | 4 | SOWPODS | Afrikaans — the Afrikaans language |
| KRAAL | 9 | TWL + SOWPODS | Can also be used as a verb (to pen) |
| AA | 2 | TWL + SOWPODS | Volcanic lava with a rough surface |
Quick Insight
AA (rough lava) is one of the shortest valid English words and appears in both major Scrabble dictionaries. It comes from Hawaiian and is pronounced "ah-ah." Geologists use it to describe a specific type of basaltic lava flow.
Strategy for Double-A Racks
Strategy Tips
- Dump duplicate A's: With 9 A tiles in the bag, drawing 2-3 A's is common. KRAAL, BAAL, and SALAAM clear them efficiently.
- KRAAL is your best bet: At 9 points with common tiles (K, R, A, A, L), it's the highest-scoring AA-ender you'll realistically play.
- Hook onto existing A: If the board has a word ending in A, add another A to form AA, then extend to BAAL or KRAAL.
- SOWPODS advantage: International players get NAAM and TAAL as extra options — memorize these for tournament play.
Words With Double Letters (Comparison)
Related Reads
Too Many A Tiles?
Enter your rack and our solver finds every AA-word and vowel-dump play available.
Try the Word Finder →Scoring Patterns
High-Value Tiles
Q(10), Z(10), X(8), J(8) — power tiles that transform ordinary words into premium scorers when placed on letter multipliers.
Mid-Value Tiles
K(5), H(4), W(4), V(4), F(4), Y(4) — often overlooked but consistently add 4-5 points per word. Pair with common tiles for reliable scoring.
Bingo Bonus (+50)
Use all 7 tiles for the bingo bonus. Words 7+ letters long from this page are potential bingo candidates worth memorising specifically.
Parallel Plays
Short words placed alongside existing words create multiple crossings. Each crossing scores independently — a 3-letter parallel can yield 20+ points.
Advanced Rack Management
📊 Expected Value
Tournament players calculate expected value per move — the score of the play PLUS the average score you can expect next turn given the leave.
✓ Good Leave
ING, TION, NESS — bingo-enabling combinations
✗ Bad Leave
Double/triple copies of the same letter — forces exchanges
50pts
Bingo bonus for 7 tiles
3x
More options from balanced rack
100%
Rack deduction in endgame
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.
30%
Score improvement
5 min
Daily study needed
Free
No signup required
Whether you are 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
🧠 Memory Technique
Group these words into clusters of 5 and learn one cluster per day. After a week, test yourself on all 35 — you will retain 80%+ using spaced repetition. Review any forgotten words the following day.
The most effective Scrabble study habit is short, daily sessions rather than long weekly marathons. Five minutes of focused word review every day builds permanent memory faster than an hour once a week.
📚 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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