369 Words Ending in F — Proof That Short Words Pack a Punch
F-ending words have a distinctive personality: they're blunt, direct, and often monosyllabic. LEAF, ROOF, HALF, SELF, WOLF, LOAF, CHEF, REEF, STIFF, BLUFF, STAFF, CLIFF. These words hit hard and stop dead — there's no trailing vowel to soften the landing. That abruptness is partly why F-enders sound so decisive in English. The -FF doubling pattern is worth noting: STAFF, BLUFF, CLIFF, SCOFF, SNIFF, TARIFF. The doubled F almost always follows a short vowel, and it signals that the vowel sound is clipped rather than drawn out (compare LEAF vs. DEAF, ROOF vs. HOOF). For crossword solvers, this means -FF words usually have short vowels, which narrows your guesses when you've locked in the ending.
A surprising fact: AARDWOLF (a nocturnal African mammal related to the hyena) is one of the few animal names ending in F, and it's valid in Scrabble for 15 points. Even better, APERITIF — a pre-dinner drink — scores 13 and uses common tiles beautifully. Among the shorter plays, OAF (6 points), ELF (6 points), and REF (6 points) are efficient three-letter options. DWARF uses the W nicely for 12 points. The -PROOF compound words are a hidden treasure in this group: FIREPROOF, RAINPROOF, RUSTPROOF, FOOLPROOF, BULLETPROOF. These won't fit in most Scrabble games, but they're crossword gold for long fill slots. Tip: when you see an F-ending clue in a crossword that mentions sound or music, think RIFF, MOTIF, or LEITMOTIF. See words ending in V for the other labiodental consonant ending, words ending in H for more Anglo-Saxon roots, and words starting with A for entries like APERITIF and AARDWOLF.
FAQ
What F-ending words score highest in Scrabble?
AARDWOLF leads at 15 base points (plus it's eight letters, giving it premium square reach). APERITIF scores 13, PLAINTIFF scores 14, and DWARF scores 12. Among short words, OAF, ELF, and REF all score 6 for three tiles — reliable plays when the board is crowded. For other compact, high-efficiency plays, explore words ending in X where short words like WAX and FOX score well.
Why do so many F-ending words use double F?
The FF doubling follows a centuries-old English spelling rule: after a short vowel in a one-syllable word, final F (along with L, S, and Z) gets doubled. That's why STAFF, CLIFF, BLUFF, STIFF, and SCOFF all use FF, while LEAF, LOAF, and ROOF (with long vowels) use single F. Knowing this pattern helps you guess spellings in crosswords and avoid challenges in Scrabble. For another consonant-doubling pattern, see words ending in Z where BUZZ, FIZZ, and JAZZ follow the same logic.
Are words like YOURSELF and HERSELF valid in Scrabble?
Yes. YOURSELF, HERSELF, HIMSELF, ITSELF, and MYSELF are all valid. They're long words (7-8 letters) that use common tiles and can reach premium squares. YOURSELF scores 14 base points. However, they're hard to play because you need the right board space for 7+ letters. For more practical long-word strategies, see words ending in Y where thousands of -LY and -RY words give you extension options.