Words Ending in IF: A Small Set With Big Scrabble Value
Just 28 words in the dictionary end in IF, and most of them are short, punchy, and borrowed from other languages. IF itself is the most common English word in the group — a conjunction so fundamental it appears in nearly every paragraph of written English. After that, you get CALIF (a variant of CALIPH, an Islamic leader), COIF (a close-fitting cap), MOTIF (a recurring theme or design), and NAIF (an inexperienced person). The F at the end gives each word 4 Scrabble points as a finishing flourish.
What makes -IF words interesting for word games is their origin stories. MOTIF comes from French, CALIF from Arabic, NAIF from French again (related to NAIVE), and SERIF has Latin roots through Italian typography. COIF entered English from Old French "coife" and has been in the language since the 14th century. For crossword solvers, MOTIF and SERIF are the most likely answers — they appear in puzzles themed around art, design, or typography. The word PLAINTIFF drops the -IF at the end of its root word, but PONTIF (not standard — PONTIFF has two Fs) doesn't qualify. Tip: memorize the -IF list since it's short enough to hold in your head entirely. For other small ending groups, check words ending in Q or words ending in GRY. Fans of F-endings can also browse words ending in FE for the related pattern.
FAQ
Is SERIF a Scrabble word?
Yes, SERIF is valid in Scrabble and scores 8 base points. It refers to the small decorative strokes at the ends of letters in typefaces like Times New Roman. Its opposite, SANS SERIF, is two words and not playable as a single entry. For more design-related words, browse words ending in I where ORIGAMI lives.
What's the difference between NAIF and NAIVE?
NAIF is a noun meaning an inexperienced or naive person, while NAIVE is an adjective describing that quality. Both come from French, but NAIF retains the original French masculine noun form. In Scrabble, NAIF scores 7 points and NAIVE scores 8. For other French-derived endings, see words ending in QUE where BOUTIQUE and UNIQUE live.