To be pissed off with my sister about 2 letter words in Scrabble?

[Destinysdaughter]

Tonight I suggested to my sister and DP that instead of staring at our screens we played a nice game of Scrabble unfortunately it quickly came unstuck as I played a word underneath another word and the 2 letter words that it made were ed and da. They said that I was cheating as they were not real words. Admittedly they were using a dictionary from 1977 whilst I play on a Scrabble app which gives you the list of allowed 2 letter words which you need to learn ( although you don't need to learn the meanings) .

So we had a v v heated dispute that you should only be allowed to use words where you knew the actual meaning as it was a game about lexicology whilst I was arguing that actually it's a numbers game and it's about placing words in a way where you will gain the most points ( even if you don't know the meaning of them )

We abandoned the game but are still arguing about who us right. I think I am! AIBU?

Qi is a word in scrabble I think. I think it has something to do with acupuncture??

Ed and da? FFS! Where's the fun if you use made up / non existent/ foreign language words?
Not acceptable in my book, wordsthe only way to play is to use a previously agreed dictionary to settle disputes. But I am old school, and I know even my mum, who plays Scrabble competitively, does use these ridiculous, so-called words . I think it spoils the game.

I’m an avid scrabble player and the Queensbury rules are that you should absolutely be able to give the definition if challenged by the opponent...

HOWEVER, I have recently started playing with an app and to my inner disgust I’m apparently more than happy to deploy some words that I don’t know the meaning, but the app accepts thus leading to naughty glory.

I like it but it’s filthy.

SatanicDesk I think I love you just a little bit.

I play scrabble a lot. The choice of dictionary is very important. I usually use Collins scrabble words (used to be sowpods) It depends where you are playing. Some dictionaries are more permissive than others and it can get confusing when you use different ones.

Two letter words are extremely important in scrabble but knowing what they mean isn’t! Many great scrabble players play in English even though they don’t speak it.

Scrabble is more about the maths than the letters.

We have the OSW - Official Scrabble Words book. It was published in 1988. In disputes if it's not in there then you can jog on.

I’m an avid scrabble player and the Queensbury rules are that you should absolutely be able to give the definition if challenged by the opponent

Haha, I’d be stuffed if this were the case. You don’t even have to be good at spelling to be a good scrabble player.

You don’t even have to be good at spelling to be a good scrabble player.

We once played a game where every word had to be spelled incorrectly. It was surprisingly tough!

Under normal circumstances tho, we use our household dictionary to settle disputes.

YANBU in that you don't need to know the meanings of the words to play them. Unless it is a house rule that you have agreed in advance.

But you also need to agree which dictionary to use in advance - were your words in it or not?

Basically, none of you are wrong - you are just playing using different variations of the rules. Before you start playing, you need to choose a dictionary to use and agree whether or not a player must define a word. A few minutes discussion at the beginning can save a lot of arguments during the game.

I know I'm late on this thread but OP what app do you use that helps you learn the two-letter words? I use Wordmaster Pro and it doesn't. I have been to a Scrabble playing group and I don't know many two-letter words, so I was a bit slower than most and I won't go back till I've learnt them. They have official lists and I can find them on Wikipedia etc. CSW22 is the main one: Collins Scrabble Words 2022. I want to learn them AND know the meanings. The modern way is apparently "We don't care what they mean".

I think if you’re challenged about a word and you can’t say what it means you can’t have it, I thought that was a rule. But maybe my mum made it up

TWO LETTER WORD QUIZ

I found this two letter word quiz on sporcle. It uses all the proper UK scrabble two letter words. It's free and you don't have to sign up. Doesn't give the meaning though.

@ironblancmange Sorry meant to tag you in my post.

(Just getting used to mumsnet re tagging etc.) Thanks very much, I did actually find a quiz too, I just wondered about the app where you play some version of Scrabble and it helps you with the words. But probably the quiz is better. I found this, where you can turn the flashcards over to see the meaning. But I haven't signed up there.
quizlet.com/2558/scrabble-2-letter-words-flash-cards/

@midlifecrash I suppose people use various rules. I definitely intend to learn the meanings. But the rule in this group I have been to is: play the word, the other player challenges, and someone checks whether it exists (not what it means). If it doesn't exist, you miss your turn.

This is what is driving me mad, this rule that all two-letter words allowed are good but no one cares what they mean! They have all been playing for years the same way, but the group is thinning out, of the former 25 or so there are only 5 left - some have died! And I feel really uncomfortable playing so slowly but that's how it is.

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Scrabble/TwoLetterr_Words This is the definitive current two letter word list for scrabble players in the Uk.

It's different in different countries.

The are 127 words.

Thanks, yes, I know that list and I have even printed out the grid version on a colour printer. The group I play with accept EW, although it's US only.
The problem is that I don't have these words in my head.
They have a printed sheet with those words, amended to update to 2022, plus a few other categories like 4-letter words with more than 2 vowels, all Q words with U and so on. I have taken a note of that but the problem is I will always be the slowest until I learn and practise those words!

We've memorised all the two letter words so there's no argument about that! But occasionally one of us will put down a chancer word, say 'bronk' or something and look hopefully at the other. 'What does it mean then,' usually sorts it!

If I understand your post correctly you guys were using a dictionary (you mention it’s from 1977)… to me it’s then easy, if your words are in the dictionary they are ok if not they aren’t. Seems to me you signed up to this at the start of the game?

Play Monopoly instead 😂

Agreeing on house rules before you start is probably the way forward.

But technically you are correct. There was a guy who won the national Scrabble tournament in France without being able to speak French at all. He didn't know what any of the words meant or how to pronounce them, he had just memorised the dictionary.

The rules state you can't look up a word before placing it but if it is challenged then you can check it. There are specific Scrabble word books but you can also check online by typing the word and Scrabble and it will say if it's a valid Scrabble word.

There used to be a book of 'Official Scrabble words' published and it was just list after list. If a word was in, you could use it. However it didn't give meanings, therefore I would say no you don't need to know the meanings.

EW is definitely an valid official UK Scrabble word. It's not always been a valid word but it is now. Check out the wiki list I linked to earlier or here is the same list from the Association of British Scrabble Players LINK HERE
There are 127 valid words. You have to be so careful with what dictionary you use and that any information is up to date but this list is!

aa
(Hawaiian) a type of lava > AAS.
ab
An abdominal muscle > ABS.
ad
(Coll.) advertisement > ADS.
ae
(Scots) one. No -S.
ag
(Short for) agricultural; (noun) agriculture > AGS.
ah
Interjection expressing surprise, joy etc > AHS, AHING, AHED.
ai
(Tupi) the three-toed sloth > AIS.
al
An E. Indian shrub > ALS.
am
Present tense of be.
an
Indefinite article; (noun) something that might have happened but did not, as in ifs and ans > ANS.
ar
The letter r > ARS.
as
In whatever way; (noun) a Norse god > AESIR; a gravel ridge or KAME > ASAR; a Roman coin > ASSES.
at
Preposition denoting position in space or time; (noun) a monetary unit of Laos > ATS.
aw
Interjection expressing disappointment, sympathy etc.
ax
(US) axe > AXES.
ay
(Noun) an affirmative vote > AYS. Also AYE.
ba
In ancient Egyptian religion, the soul > BAS.
be
To exist.
bi
(Short for) bisexual > BIS.
bo
Fellow; pal, buddy > BOS.
by
Beside, near; (noun) same as BYE > BYS.
ch
(Obs. dial.) pronoun meaning I.
da
(Burmese) a heavy Burmese knife > DAS. Also DAH.
de
From (as used in names).
di
(Pl.) DEUS, a god.
do
A musical note: DOS; (verb) to perform > DOES, DOING, DID, DONE.
ea
(Dial.) river > EAS.
ed
(Short for) education > EDS.
ee
(Scots) eye > EEN.
ef
The letter f.
eh
Interjection expressing enquiry; (verb) to say 'eh' > EHS, EHING, EHED.
el
The letter l > ELS.
em
The letter M; a unit of measurement in printing > EMS.
en
The letter N; a unit in printing > ENS.
er
An interjection expressing hesitation.
es
The letter S > ESES. Also ESS.
et
(Obs.) pt. EAT.
ew
Interjection used to express disgust.
ex
The letter X; someone no longer in a previous relationship > EXES; (verb) to cross out > EXING, EXED.
fa
A musical note, as in sol-fa > FAS.
fe
(Hebrew) a Hebrew letter > FES
fy
An interjection expressing reproach. No -S hook. Also FIE.
gi
(Japanese) a judo or karate costume > GIS. Also GIE.
go
To pass from one place to another > GOES, GOING, WENT, GONE; (noun) a board game > GOS.
gu
(ON) a kind of violin formerly used in the Shetlands. Also GUE, GJU.
ha
An interjection expressing e.g. surprise.
he
A male person > HES.
hi
An interjection calling attention.
hm
An interjection expressing hesitation. Also HMM.
ho
Interjection calling attention, expressing surprise etc. Also HOH.
id
A fish of the carp family > IDS. Also IDE.
if
On condition that; (noun) a condition > IFS.
in
(Verb) to take in > INS, INNING, INNED.
io
An interjection expressing joy, triumph, grief; (noun) a cry of 'io' > IOS.
is
(3rd.) BE, to exist.
it
The neuter of he she him or her.
ja
Yes.
jo
(Scots) a loved one > JOES.
ka
The spirit or soul of a dead person; (verb) to serve > KAS, KAING, KAED. Also KAE.
ki
(Japanese) the spirit of Japanese martial art > KIS. Also QI, CHI.
ko
(Maori) a digging-stick > KOS.
ky
Cattle. No -S. Also KYE.
la
A musical note > LAS.
li
(Chinese) a Chinese unit of distance > LIS.
lo
An interjection meaning see, look.
ma
(Coll.) mother > MAS.
me
A musical note > MES.
mi
A musical note > MIS.
mm
An interjection expressing agreement.
mo
A moment > MOS.
mu
(Greek) a letter of the Greek alphabet > MUS.
my
Of or belonging to me.
na
(Scots) no, not at all.
ne
(Obs.) not.
no
Word of negation > NOS or NOES.
nu
(Greek) a letter in the Greek alphabet > NUS.
ny
(Verb) to approach > NYES, NYING, NYED. Also NIE > NIES, NYING, NIES.
ob
An objection > OBS.
od
A hypothetical force; an old word for god, often used as a mild oath > ODS.
oe
(Scots) a grandchild > OES. Also OY, OYE.
of
Belonging to.
oh
An interjection; (verb) to say OH > OHS, OHING, OHED.
oi
An interjection used to express attention; (noun) the grey-faced petrel > OIS.
ok
(Adjective) all right.
om
An intoned Hindu sacred symbol > OMS.
on
(Verb) to go on with, to put up with > ONS, ONNING, ONNED.
oo
(Scots) wool > OOS.
op
(Short for) operation > OPS.
or
(Noun) the heraldic tincture gold > ORS.
os
(Lat.) 1. a bone > OSSA. 2. a mouthlike opening > ORA.
ou
(Scots) an interjection expressing concession; (noun) a bloke > OUS.
ow
An interjection expressing pain.
ox
A bovine animal > OXEN; also, a clumsy person > OXES.
oy
(Scots) a grandchild > OYS. Also OE, OYE.
pa
(Maori) a hill fort > PAS. Also PAH.
pe
(Hebrew) a Hebrew letter > PES. Also PEH, FEH.
pi
(Greek) a letter in the Greek alphabet > PIS.
po
(Short for) chamberpot > POS.
qi
(Chinese) the physical life-force postulated by certain Chinese philosophers > QIS.
re
A musical note > RES.
sh
An interjection requesting silence. Also SHA, SHH.
si
An earlier form of TI, a musical note.
so
In such a way; (noun) a musical note > SOS.
st
An interjection requesting silence.
ta
An interjection expressing thanks > TAS.
te
= TI, a musical note > TES.
ti
A musical note; a small Pacific tree > TIS.
to
In the direction of, towards.
ug
To dread, loathe > UGS, UGGING, UGGED. [ON ugga, to fear, dread].
uh
An interjection expressing surprise.
um
An interjection expressing doubt or hesitation; (verb) to express hesitation > UMS, UMMING, UMMED.
un
(Dial.) one > UNS.
up
(Verb) to move up > UPS, UPPING, UPPED.
ur
An interjection expressing hesitation.
us
Pronoun.
ut
A musical note > UTS.
we
Pronoun.
wo
Woe > WOS.
xi
(Greek) a letter in the Greek alphabet > XIS.
xu
A Vietnamese monetary unit > XU. No -S.
ya
an Asian pear >YAS.
ye
(Arch.) you.
yo
An interjection calling for effort or attention
yu
(Chinese) a precious jade > YUS.
za
(Sl.) pizza > ZAS.
ze
A gender-neutral pronoun.
zo
(Tibetan) a kind of yak > ZOS. Also ZHO, DZO, DSO, DZHO.

Sounds like they’re bad losers. May I suggest next week you try a relaxing game of monopoly instead?