en The letter N; a unit in printing > ENS.
er An interjection expressing hesitation.
es The letter S > ESES. Also ESS.
et (Obs.) pt. EAT.
ex The letter X; someone no longer in a previous relationship > EXES; (verb) to cross out > EXING, EXED.
fa A musical note, as in sol-fa > FAS.
fe (Hebrew) a Hebrew letter > FES go To pa.s.s from one place to another > GOES, GOING, WENT, GONE; (noun) a board game > GOS.
ha An interjection expressing, e.g., surprise.
he A male person > HES.
hi An interjection calling attention.
hm An interjection expressing hesitation. Also HMM.
ho Interjection calling attention, expressing surprise, etc. Also HOH.
id A fish of the carp family > IDS. Also IDE.
if On condition that; (noun) a condition > IFS.
in (Verb) to take in > INS, INNING, INNED.
is (3rd.) BE, to exist.
it The neuter of he, she, him or her.
jo (Scots) a loved one > JOES.ka The spirit or soul of a dead person; (verb) to serve > KAS, KAING, KAED. Also KAE.
ki (j.a.panese) the spirit of j.a.panese martial art > KIS. Also QI, CHI.
la A musical note > LAS.
li (Chinese) a Chinese unit of distance > LIS.
lo An interjection meaning see, look.
ma (Coll.) mother > MAS.
me A musical note > MES.
mi A musical note > MIS.
mm An interjection expressing agreement.
mo A moment > MOS.
mu (Greek) a letter of the Greek alphabet > MUS.
my Of or belonging to me.
na (Scots) no, not at all.
ne (Obs.) not.
no Word of negation > NOS or NOES.
nu (Greek) a letter in the Greek alphabet > NUS.
od A hypothetical force; an old word for G.o.d, often used as a mild oath > ODS.
oe (Scots) a grandchild > OES. Also OY, OYE.
of Belonging to.
oh An interjection; (verb) to say OH > OHS, OHING, OHED.
oi An interjection used to express attention; (noun) the gray-faced petrel > OIS.
om An intoned Hindu sacred symbol > OMS.
on (Verb) to go on with, to put up with > ONS, ONNING, ONNED.
op (Short for) operation > OPS.
or (Noun) the heraldic tincture gold > ORS.
os (Lat.) 1. a bone > OSSA. 2. a mouth-like opening > ORA.
ou (Scots) an interjection expressing concession; (noun) a bloke > OUS.
ow An interjection expressing pain.
ox A bovine animal > OXEN; also, a clumsy person > OXES.
oy (Scots) a grandchild > OYS. Also OE, OYE.
pa (Maori) a hill fort > PAS. Also PAH.pe (Hebrew) a Hebrew letter > PES. Also PEH, FEH.
pi (Greek) a letter in the Greek alphabet > PIS.
qi (Chinese) the physical life force postulated by certain Chinese philosophers > QIS.
re A musical note > RES.
sh An interjection requesting silence. Also SHA, SHH.
si An earlier form of TI, a musical note.
so so In such a way; (noun) a musical note > SOS.
ta An interjection expressing thanks > TAS.
ti A musical note; a small Pacific tree > TIS.
to In the direction of, toward.
uh An interjection expressing surprise.
um An interjection expressing doubt or hesitation; (verb) to express hesitation > UMS, UMMING, UMMED.
un (Dial.) one > UNS.
up (Verb) to move up > UPS, UPPING, UPPED.
us p.r.o.noun.
ut A musical note > UTS.
we p.r.o.noun.
wo Woe > WOS.
xi (Greek) a letter in the Greek alphabet > XIS.
xu A Vietnamese monetary unit > XU. No -S.
ya You. No -S.
ye (Arch.) you.
yo An interjection calling for effort or attention.
za (Sl.) pizza > ZAS.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
TOM WHIPPLE is the science editor at The Times, and a bad loser. He has spent countless hours phoning experts and distilling their knowledge-normally about somewhat more serious subjects than games. He has been a feature writer for Times2 and contributes features for The Economist Intelligent Life, among other magazines. His wife has stopped playing Scrabble with him because, she claims, he is the sort of person who learns all the two-letter words without knowing their meaning.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
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