How many words start with YA?

This page lists 176 words starting with YA, each shown with its Scrabble score.

Are these words valid in official Scrabble play?

Not necessarily. This site uses the open ENABLE word list; check the official dictionary used by your game or tournament.

Words Starting With YA

All 176 words in our dictionary that begin with YA, sorted by Scrabble score. Use them to open a word on the board or fill a crossword clue.

176 words · number = Scrabble score · sorted highest score first

yahrzeits24 yahrzeit23 yardsticks20 yardworks20 yashmaks20 yachtsman19 yachtsmen19 yakking19 yanquis19 yardstick19 yardwork19 yashmak19 yawningly19 yachtings18 yachtman18 yachtmen18 yakked18 yakkers18 yanqui18 yapocks18 yarmelkes18 yarmulkes18 yashmacs18 yabbering17 yachting17 yacking17 yaffing17 yahooisms17 yakker17 yamalkas17 yammering17 yamulkas17 yapock17 yardmasters17 yardwands17 yarmelke17 yarmulke17 yashmac17 yawmeters17 yawpings17 yabbered16 yachted16 yachters16 yacked16 yaffed16 yahooism16 yakitoris16 yamalka16 yammered16 yammerers16 yamulka16 yardbirds16 yardmaster16 yardwand16 yasmaks16 yataghans16 yawmeter16 yawping16 yachter15 yakitori15 yammerer15 yanking15 yapoks15 yapping15 yardbird15 yasmak15 yataghan15 yawped15 yawpers15 yabbers14 yachts14 yacks14 yaffs14 yammers14 yanked14 yapok14 yapped14 yappers14 yardarms14 yardlands14 yawling14 yawning14 yawper14 yabber13 yacht13 yack13 yaff13 yammer13 yapper13 yardages13 yardarm13 yardland13 yardman13 yardmen13 yarrows13 yattering13 yauping13 yawing13 yawled13 yawned13 yawners13 yawps13 yahoos12 yanks12 yardage12 yarding12 yarely12 yarrow12 yatagans12 yattered12 yauped12 yaupers12 yaupons12 yawed12 yawner12 yawp12 yahoo11 yaks11 yamens11 yamuns11 yank11 yapons11 yarded11 yarning11 yatagan11 yauper11 yaupon11 yawls11 yawns11 yagers10 yairds10 yak10 yamen10 yamun10 yantras10 yapon10 yarned10 yarners10 yatters10 yaups10 yautias10 yawl10 yawn10 yaws10 yays10 yager9 yagis9 yah9 yaird9 yams9 yangs9 yantra9 yaps9 yards9 yarest9 yarner9 yatter9 yauds9 yauld9 yaup9 yautia9 yaw9 yay9 yagi8 yald8 yam8 yang8 yap8 yard8 yarer8 yarns8 yaud8 yare7 yarn7 yar6 ya5

Playing words that start with YA

Leading with YA lets you hook onto open columns and reach premium squares. Scan the high-scoring entries above first — they offer the best return when you have the tiles.

What the numbers say

Inside this list: 176 words spanning 2–11 letters. The biggest cluster sits at 6 letters (38 words), 23 entries are Wordle-sized at five letters, and 38 run to seven — bingo length if you can empty the rack. For points, the ceiling is YAHRZEITS, worth 24.

For quick reference, the top of the score table reads: YAHRZEITS (24), YAHRZEIT (23), YARDSTICKS (20), YARDWORKS (20), YASHMAKS (20). YARDMASTERS (11 letters) stretches furthest, while the list-wide average score sits near 13 points. If you are fishing for these words, keep A (176 appearances), Y (176) and R (77) on your rack.

Three words worth learning first

YANTRA — 6 letters for 9 points; every tile in it is a common draw, so it shows up rack after rack.
Playing YAREST across a double-word square turns its base 9 points into 18 — solid value for 6 tiles.
YARNER is easy to keep in memory: 6 letters, 9 points, and no awkward tiles to hunt for.

Once those stick, file away the next tier too: YATTER (9), YAUTIA (9), YARER (8), YARNS (8), YAGERS (10).

Learning words through YA

If you are studying English, YA is a high-leverage chunk: instead of memorising each word cold, anchor the YA pattern and let the surrounding letters vary. Word-game players get a parallel benefit — when a crossword grid or a Wordle guess reveals the YA sequence, this page is the complete candidate pool, already sorted by Scrabble value.

More starting letters

Narrow it down

Combine a starting letter with a length or pattern in the Word Finder for exact matches.