XU: One Word, One Coin, Maximum Impact
The entire XU section of the dictionary contains exactly one entry: XU, a monetary unit of Vietnam equal to one hundredth of a dong. That's it. No plural, no derivatives, no extended forms. But this single two-letter word punches well above its weight in word games. In Scrabble, XU scores 9 points (X=8, U=1) from just two tiles, making it one of the most efficient plays per tile in the game. Drop it on a double-letter X square and you're at 17 points for a turn that took two seconds to play.
XU is also a crossword solver's friend. When you see a two-letter slot starting with X, your options are XU and XI — that's the entire list. This makes X-starting crossword fills almost trivially solvable once you know these two words exist. The coin itself has been largely phased out of Vietnamese currency due to inflation, but it lives on in dictionaries and game boards worldwide. For other two-letter power plays using rare tiles, check words starting with QI. And if you want to see what else the X tile can do, browse all X words or words starting with JE for the other premium-tile opener.
FAQ
Is XU valid in Words With Friends?
Yes, XU is accepted in Words With Friends, Scrabble (both TWL and SOWPODS), and most other word games. It's one of only two valid two-letter words starting with X — the other being XI. For similar high-value short words, check words starting with QI.
Can XU be pluralized as XUS?
No. XU has no plural form in the Scrabble dictionary. The word is already treated as both singular and plural (like "sheep" or "deer"). This means you can't extend it for extra points. For extendable short words, look at words ending in JO, where BANJO becomes BANJOS.