Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#355 03/16/2000 8:44 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1
stranger
stranger
Offline
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1
Several years ago at a Scrabble tournament, a player used a five-letter word that was vowelless (is that a word?). Does anyone know it and save me from reading the Scrabble Dictionary cover to cover? Merci.


Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004
old hand
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004
I'm not sure what the conventions are, but there are a number of words that use 'y' in place of vowels. I believe some commentators consider y and w as de facto vowels, in which case these examples would not apply, but here are some possibilities:

pygmy

gypsy

(Both have alternative spellings, with 'i', though.)

rhythm (and its extension: rhythms) is about the longest I have come across. Also (are there enough 'y's in Scrabble for this?): syzygy.

The longest string of letters without a vowel (or a fake vowel like y or w) occurs, I believe, in the compound word: laTCHSTRing.

Hope this helps.


Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2
stranger
stranger
Offline
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2
Another word is nymph.


Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
here's one that's rare (and Welsh): crwth


Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2
stranger
stranger
Offline
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2
Strengths, is I believe the longest word with only one vowel.


Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5
stranger
stranger
Offline
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5
As for words that have no Ys either (lest we should forget the ..."and sometimes Y" part of the nursery mantra), there are 2 three letter ones: nth, and qts.

There is a seven-letter one as well: "tsktsks," meaning the noise of disapproval or admonishment.

Cheers.


Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Is "qts" really accepted in Scrabble?

Here's another actual Welsh word: cwm (it means valley)



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,915
Posts230,262
Members9,208
Most Online4,606
Sep 17th, 2025
Newest Members
JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery, Forix Richard
9,208 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
JerryC 1
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 11,122
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,974
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.1