BO Endings: From JUMBO to AKIMBO
Words ending in BO have a playful, percussive quality — say JUMBO, BIMBO, LIMBO, MAMBO, AKIMBO out loud and you'll hear it. Many of these words entered English from Spanish, Portuguese, or African languages, which is why they feel rhythmic and foreign at the same time. MAMBO came from Cuban Spanish, JUMBO probably from Swahili (possibly from the famous elephant), and AKIMBO has mysterious Old Norse roots. For Scrabble players, BO as a standalone word scores 4 points and refers to a type of fig tree — useful when you need a quick two-letter dump.
The crossword solver's trick with -BO words is knowing the common ones cold. LIMBO appears in clues about uncertainty or a Caribbean dance. AKIMBO is almost exclusively clued as "hands on hips, elbows out." COMBO shows up for music or food. TURBO for speed. These words cross well because B and O both pair naturally with many letters. If you're hunting for more words with exotic origins, words starting with X has a similar flavor. And words ending in OH shares that open-vowel ending sound that makes words feel expressive.
Game tip: GAZEBO is the star -BO word for Scrabble — the Z alone is worth 10 points, and GAZEBO totals 18 base. Place that Z on a premium square and you're looking at 30+ points easily. Also keep words starting with PH in mind when building around B on the board.
FAQ
Where does the word AKIMBO come from?
AKIMBO's origin is debated, but most etymologists trace it to Middle English "in kenebowe," possibly from Old Norse. It exclusively describes a posture — arms bent with hands on hips and elbows pointing outward. In Scrabble it scores 15 points and uses common tiles. For other posture and body-related words, explore words ending in I where you'll find anatomical terms.
Is BO a valid Scrabble word?
Yes, BO is valid in both TWL and SOWPODS. It refers to a variant spelling of a fig tree (also spelled BODHI). At 4 points it's modest, but its real value is as a parallel play or board-opener. For other valuable two-letter words, see words starting with QU where QI dominates short-word scoring.