-VET Words: Velvet, Rivet, and the Art of the Short Play
Words ending in -VET tend to be short, punchy, and French in origin. RIVET, CIVET, DUVET, PRIVET, COVET, and BREVET all trace back to Old French, and most have been in English since the medieval period. VELVET (though it ends in -VET, the root is different) might be the most familiar, but it's actually CIVET — the cat-like animal whose musk was once used in perfume — that holds the most interesting backstory. The civet trade shaped European fragrance making for centuries.
In Scrabble, V is worth 4 points and sits in an awkward middle tier: not common enough to play easily, not rare enough to be worth huge points. -VET words help solve this problem by pairing V with the common tiles E and T. COVET scores 10 points, DUVET scores 9, and GRIVET (a type of monkey) reaches 10. In crosswords, RIVET gets clued as "fasten" or "hold attention," while COVET appears with "desire" or "envy" clues — both are frequent answers.
Quick strategy: if you draw a V early in Scrabble, keep an E and T in reserve. The -VET combination uses three common-to-moderate tiles efficiently. For more V-tile strategies, explore words starting with RE for prefix combinations. Players who like French-origin vocabulary should also browse words ending in GRY and words starting with ZE.
FAQ
What does BREVET mean?
BREVET is a military term for a temporary promotion to a higher rank without the corresponding pay increase. It comes from Old French "brevet" (a short letter). It's valid in Scrabble for 12 points and appears in history-themed crosswords. For other military and historical terms, see words starting with RE.
Is GRIVET a real animal?
Yes, a GRIVET is an Old World monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) native to Ethiopia and Sudan. It's closely related to the vervet monkey. In word games, it scores 10 points in Scrabble and is rarely challenged because it sounds plausible. For more animal-related words, try words ending in O.
What's the best -VET word for Scrabble scoring?
CURVET (a horse's leaping movement) and BREVET both score 12 base points — the highest among common -VET words. Placing the V on a double-letter square pushes them higher. Also check words starting with UN for prefix plays like UNRIVET.