Words Starting With A

A Words: 10,771 Entries and the Game's Best Two-Letter Play

A is the most common starting letter in English, and for word game players, that volume translates directly into flexibility. With 10,771 words beginning with A, you have options at every length — from the two-letter AA (a type of rough volcanic lava, valid in Scrabble) up through monsters like AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. But raw count isn't what makes A special. It's the tactical range. Short A-words like AAH, ABA, ACE, and AGO are Scrabble staples for tight boards. Mid-length words like ABOUT, ALARM, and ANTIC fill crossword grids daily. And long A-words like ACCELERATE and ACKNOWLEDGE dominate the 9-to-10-letter sweet spot where Scrabble bingos live — A has 1,870 nine-letter entries, more than any other length.

Two facts about A that sharpen your game sense. First, A is one of only two English letters that function as standalone words (A and I), and A is the sixth most frequently used word in the language. That frequency means crossword constructors can't avoid A — it appears in virtually every grid, often multiple times. Second, Scrabble bags contain nine A tiles, second only to E's twelve. You will regularly hold two or three A tiles at once, and knowing double-A words (AAH, AAHS, AAL, AARDVARK, BAAL) prevents those tiles from clogging your rack. AALII (a Hawaiian shrub) is a triple-A word that's valid in tournaments — obscure, but it clears three A tiles in one shot.

Rack management tip: if you're holding multiple A tiles with no strong play, don't force it. Exchange tiles rather than scoring 8 points on a weak word. But first, check for front-hook opportunities — A prepended to an existing word often works. WARD becomes AWARD, BRIDGE becomes ABRIDGE, MEND becomes AMEND. These plays score well and use an A productively. For the other dominant vowel-starter, see words starting with E. Pair A knowledge with words ending in TION for long crossword fills like ABOLITION and ACCUSATION. And for contrast with rare starting letters, browse words starting with X and words starting with Z.

FAQ