LI Endings: Latin Plurals and Italian Imports
Words ending in LI are a goldmine for anyone who enjoys the borrowed corners of English. Most come from Latin or Italian plurals — BACILLI (plural of bacillus), CALCULI (plural of calculus), ALVEOLI (plural of alveolus), ANNULI (plural of annulus). These are the kinds of words that make crossword solvers feel like they paid attention in biology class. Then there's the food category: AIOLI (garlic mayonnaise from Provence), BROCOLI (an older spelling variant), and CANNOLI. The pattern is consistent — if a word ends in LI, it probably arrived from a Romance language.
ALKALI stands apart from the Latin plural crowd. It comes from Arabic al-qily (the ashes of saltwort), and it's by far the most common -LI word in everyday English. In Scrabble, ALKALI scores 10 points and uses six common tiles, making it a reliable mid-game play. For crosswords, ALKALI shows up regularly in science-themed clues about pH and chemistry. The two-letter word LI itself is valid in Scrabble (it's a Chinese unit of distance), scoring just 2 points but useful for squeezing into tight spots on the board.
Tip: If your crossword has a plural that looks wrong — ending in I instead of S — it's almost certainly a Latin or Italian word. OCTOPI, FUNGI, ALUMNI, and this whole -LI family follow that pattern. Browse words ending in R for more common endings, or check words ending in ER for a suffix that appears across both Latin and Germanic words. For unusual endings from other languages, words ending in QI covers the rare Arabic-origin set.
FAQ
Is LI a valid Scrabble word on its own?
Yes, LI is valid in both TWL and SOWPODS. It refers to a traditional Chinese unit of distance (about 500 meters). At just 2 points it won't win games alone, but it's perfect for parallel plays. For other short words from non-European languages, see words ending in QI.
Why do so many -LI words come from Latin plurals?
Latin second-declension nouns form their plural by changing -us to -i (bacillus/bacilli, calculus/calculi). English adopted these scientific and medical terms along with their Latin plural forms, since they entered through academic writing rather than everyday speech. For more on how word endings reflect origin languages, explore words ending in J, which draws heavily from Hebrew and Hindi.
What -LI words appear most often in crosswords?
ALKALI is the most frequent, usually clued through chemistry. AIOLI appears in food-themed puzzles, and BROCCOLI (though typically with the standard spelling) shows up in vegetable clues. ANNULI and ALVEOLI turn up in science-heavy grids. For another crossword-friendly ending, look at words ending in M for Latin-origin words like FORUM and MEDIUM.