What is the highest-scoring Scrabble word ending with U?

BIJOU scores 14 points without premium squares thanks to the J tile. FICHU (13 points) and BAYOU (10 points) are also strong U-ending plays. Their real value is strategic — they're nearly impossible to extend.

Why are words ending in U rare in English?

English borrowed most U-ending words from French (BAYOU, PLATEAU, BIJOU) and Japanese (TOFU). In native English, U rarely ends words. This rarity makes U-ending Scrabble words valuable — opponents won't expect them and can't easily hook onto them.

Can you save U for playing Q words in Scrabble?

Keeping U for Q is good strategy, but if Q has already been played, U-ending words like TOFU, BAYOU, and TUTU help you use surplus U tiles productively. Don't hoard U hoping for Q — play it if Q is already gone.

Solver Quiz Anagram Rack WOTD 60s Magic Squares Wordrus

Scrabble Words Ending With U — Top Highest-Scoring U-Ending Words

June 14, 2026 5 min read

Words ending in U are among the rarest and most strategically powerful plays in Scrabble. Borrowed primarily from French and Japanese, these words — BAYOU, BIJOU, PLATEAU, TOFU — are virtually impossible for opponents to extend. When you play a U-ending word, you create a dead end on the board that protects premium squares and forces your opponent to find entirely new positions.

Top 30 Highest-Scoring Words Ending With U

These are the most valuable words ending in U, ranked by base point value. U-ending words are rare but strategically powerful — they create unhookable positions on the board.

#	Word	Points	Length
1	BIJOU	14	5
2	FICHU	13	5
3	BAYOU	10	5
4	PLATEAU	9	7
5	TABLEAU	9	7
6	TOFU	7	4
7	LANDAU	7	6
8	ECRU	6	4
9	TUTU	4	4
10	LIEU	4	4

Why U-Ending Words Matter in Scrabble

U-ending words are the ultimate defensive plays. In standard English, almost nothing hooks onto a final U — no common suffixes start with U, and very few letters form valid two-letter combinations after it. When you play BAYOU or BIJOU near a triple-word square, you're effectively locking that area of the board for your sole use on future turns.

These words also serve as efficient vowel dumps. With four U tiles in the bag and U being the least useful vowel (apart from its Q partnership), U-ending words like TOFU (7 points), TUTU (4 points), and ECRU (6 points) let you shed excess U tiles without wasting a turn on exchanges. BIJOU stands out at 14 points — the J (8 pts) does the heavy lifting while the OU ending creates a sealed position. FICHU (13 points) uses the H (4 pts) and CH combination effectively for a strong play that's also unhookable.

Strategy Tips

▶Play U-words defensively: Place them adjacent to premium squares you want to protect. The U ending prevents opponents from extending into those high-value positions.
▶BIJOU is your best U-ender: At 14 points with the J tile, it scores well AND creates a dead end. Play it near triple-word squares for maximum strategic value.
▶Don't save U for Q if Q is gone: Track whether Q has been played. If it has, dump your U immediately using TOFU, TUTU, or ECRU rather than holding dead weight.
▶PLATEAU/TABLEAU for bingos: These 7-letter words use all your tiles for the 50-point bonus. Keep them in mind when your rack has common letters plus U.
▶Learn the French borrowings: BIJOU, BAYOU, PLATEAU, TABLEAU, ECRU — French contributes most U-ending words to Scrabble. A few minutes memorising these pays off throughout your games.

🔍 Try our free Scrabble Word Finder — 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

→ Letter Pattern Guides → Scrabble Tile Bag Distribution — All 100 Tiles

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.

Target 5,000–10,000 words: You don't need the entire dictionary. Build a working vocabulary that covers the most common game situations and high-scoring opportunities.

Track your discoveries: When you discover a word during a game that you did not know, write it down immediately. Real-game discoveries stick in memory longer.

← Back to all articles

📚 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