Words Ending in FI: A Truly Rare Breed
FI endings are about as scarce as English word endings get. The entire set consists of DEFI, KUFI, and BUFFI — and even these are borrowed terms that barely register in everyday usage. DEFI comes from French, meaning a challenge or defiance. KUFI (also spelled KUFI or KOFI) is a brimless cap worn in parts of Africa. BUFFI is a variant spelling related to leather preparation. This extreme rarity actually carries useful information: if you're solving a crossword and the answer ends in FI, you can be nearly certain it's one of these three words, which makes your job surprisingly simple.
In Scrabble, none of these words will come up often, but knowing they exist can save you in a pinch. DEFI scores 8 points for four tiles — modest but playable when you need to dump an F (worth 4 points) quickly. KUFI scores 11 points and uses the valuable K tile. The -FI ending is essentially an artifact of foreign borrowing; English overwhelmingly prefers -FY, -FE, or -FF at the end of words. That's why MODIFY, KNIFE, and STAFF feel natural while -FI feels foreign.
For players interested in other uncommon endings, words starting with F shows how F behaves at the beginning instead. Check words starting with QU for another set where knowing the small word list gives you an advantage, and words starting with ZA for borrowed words from similar linguistic traditions.
FAQ
Are there really only three words ending in FI?
In standard word game dictionaries, yes — DEFI, KUFI, and BUFFI are the complete set. Some dictionaries may include additional variant spellings, but the pool never grows beyond a handful. This makes -FI one of the rarest endings in English. Compare with words starting with I, which has thousands of entries, to see how unevenly English distributes its letters.
Is WIFI spelled as one word ending in FI?
WIFI (or Wi-Fi) is a trademark, not a dictionary word, so it doesn't count in Scrabble or crossword dictionaries. The term is actually a play on "hi-fi" (high fidelity), but even HI-FI is hyphenated and doesn't qualify as a -FI word. For more on tech-adjacent word game plays, see words starting with X, where terms like XEROX face similar trademark issues.