Words Ending in YO: Mayo, Embryo, and a Few Friends
The -YO ending is a small, eclectic group where almost every word comes from a different language. EMBRYO is Greek (EN + BRYON, meaning "to swell"). ARROYO (a dry creek bed) is Spanish. DAIMYO is a Japanese feudal lord. MAYO is short for mayonnaise (French by way of Mahon, a Spanish port city). TOYO is a type of straw hat from the Philippines. And YO itself is an interjection that crossed from African American Vernacular English into mainstream usage in the 1980s.
For word game players, these are niche plays that can surprise opponents. EMBRYO scores 13 points in Scrabble and uses common tiles. ARROYO at 9 points is low-scoring but fits well in tight spots. DAIMYO is worth 12 points and — crucially — most opponents won't know it, meaning they might waste a challenge. In crosswords, EMBRYO shows up regularly ("developing organism," "early stage"), and ARROYO appears in American Southwest-themed puzzles. MAYO is useful as three-letter fill with a food clue. The YO ending is rare enough that memorizing this short list gives you complete coverage of the pattern. For other short ending patterns, check words ending in QUE and words ending in XI. If you want to explore more Japanese-origin English words, words starting with K includes KARATE, KIMONO, and more.
FAQ
Is DAIMYO valid in Scrabble?
Yes, DAIMYO (also spelled DAIMIO) is valid in SOWPODS and most TWL editions. It refers to Japanese feudal lords who controlled large estates under the shogun. The word scores 12 points base. For more unusual foreign-origin words, explore words starting with Q where Arabic and Hindi borrowings appear.
What's the origin of the word ARROYO?
ARROYO comes from Spanish, meaning a brook or small stream — but in American English it specifically means a dry creek bed that floods during rain. It's common in Southwestern US geography. In crosswords, it typically gets clues like "gulch" or "dry streambed." For more geographic terms, check words ending in AH where terrain and place-related words appear.