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.

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

June 14, 2026 5 min read Word Finder

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 →

← Back to all articles