JE Words: From Jeans to Jewels, All Worth 8+ Points
Every JE word starts with at least 8 points in Scrabble — that's J (8) plus E (1) before you've even finished the word. JELLY, JEWEL, JERRY, JEST — these everyday words become premium plays just because of that opening J tile. The pattern covers 239 words total, with the longest entries clustering around 7 letters (JELLIED, JENKINS, JESTING). For crossword solvers, JE- is one of the most predictable J patterns. If your grid shows J followed by E, you're likely looking at JEALOUS, JEER, JELLY, JEST, JET, or JEWEL.
An interesting wrinkle: JE itself isn't a standalone word in standard dictionaries, but JEE (a command to a horse, variant of GEE) is valid. JEAN started as a fabric from Genoa ("Gene" in Old French), which is also where we get the city name. Crossword constructors love JEEP, JEER, and JEST because they're short, common, and have useful letter combinations. Player tip: hold onto a J when you have an E on your rack or see one on the board. The JE combination opens more doors than JA or JO in most game situations. For the full J picture, see all words starting with J, and for another high-scoring start, try QI words.
FAQ
What's the highest-scoring JE word in Scrabble?
JEJUNELY scores 25 base points, and JEOPARDIZE hits 29 before multipliers. But shorter words on premium squares often outscore long ones. JETTY on a triple-letter J square nets 39 points. For other high-value openings, compare with words starting with Q.
Are there any two-letter JE words?
No — JE alone isn't valid. The accepted two-letter J word is JO (a Scottish term for sweetheart). You can find that and its uses in words ending in O. For the full list of J starters, see words starting with J.