Mastering 2 Letter Words with E – Scrabble Strategies & Word List
If you’re serious about winning at Scrabble, 2 Letter Words with E can be powerful tools in your vocabulary. These little words play a big role in boosting your score, opening up the board, and playing defensively. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best and most strategic 2-letter words that contain the letter E — their meanings, point values, and how to use them for maximum advantage.
Whether you’re a word game enthusiast or a competitive player, mastering these 2-letter words with E will level up your game
✅ Full List of 2 Letter Words with E
In Scrabble, there are only 10 valid two-letter words containing the letter “E”. Below is the complete list with meanings and example usages:
Official Scrabble Two-Letter Words with E
AE – (noun) A Scottish term for “one.”
Usage: “He’s the ae man who can do it.”
BE – (verb) To exist; to occupy a position.
Usage: “I want to be happy.”
DE – (preposition) Of or from (used in names, e.g., “de la Cruz”).
Usage: “Miguel de Cervantes wrote Don Quixote.”
ED – (noun) Short for “education” or past tense of “edit.”
Usage: “She has a Master’s in Ed.”
EF – (noun) The letter “F” in phonetics.
Usage: “The word ‘fox’ starts with ‘ef.'”
EH – (interjection) Used to ask for repetition or express doubt.
Usage: “Eh? Could you say that again?”
EL – (noun) An elevated railway (short for “elevated train”).
Usage: “We took the el downtown.”
EM – (noun) The letter “M” in phonetics.
Usage: “The word ‘mother’ starts with ’em.'”
EN – (noun) A unit of measurement in printing (half the width of an em).
Usage: “The dash should be one en long.”
ER – (interjection) Used to express hesitation.
Usage: “Er, I’m not sure about that.”
ES – (noun) The letter “S” in phonetics.
Usage: “The word ‘snake’ starts with ‘es.'”
ET – (verb) Archaic form of “ate” (past tense of “eat”).
Usage: “He et his dinner quickly.”
EX – (noun) A former partner (short for “ex-partner”).
Usage: “She’s still friends with her ex.”
FE – (noun) A Hebrew letter (also a variant of “fie,” an archaic expression of disgust).
Usage: “In Hebrew, ‘fe’ is part of the alphabet.”
ME – (pronoun) Referring to oneself.
Usage: “Give the book to me.”
NE – (adjective) Born with the name of (short for “née”).
Usage: “Jane Doe, ne Smith.”
OE – (noun) A whirlwind off the Faroe Islands.
Usage: “The sailors feared the oe.”
PE – (noun) A Hebrew letter.
Usage: “Pe is the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.”
RE – (preposition) Concerning, regarding.
Usage: “Re: your email from yesterday…”
TE – (noun) The musical note “ti” in solfège.
Usage: “In tonic sol-fa, ‘te’ replaces ‘si.'”
UE – (noun) An archaic word for “woe” or “sorrow.”
Usage: “He cried out in ue.”
WE – (pronoun) Referring to a group including the speaker.
Usage: “We are going to the park.”
YE – (pronoun) Archaic form of “you.”
Usage: “Ye shall not pass!”
ZA – (noun) Slang for “pizza.”
Usage: “Let’s grab some za.”
Notes:
Only 10 of these (BE, DE, ED, EF, EH, EL, EM, EN, ER, EX) are universally accepted in all Scrabble dictionaries.
Others (like AE, OE, TE, ZA) are valid in some word lists (e.g., NWL, CSW).
📘 Deep Dive: Meanings & Uses of 2 Letter Words with E
Let’s explore these words in more detail so you can confidently use them in games:
1. Be
- Definition: To exist or occur.
- Example: “To be or not to be.”
- Strategy: Simple, useful, and highly flexible.
2. Ed
- Definition: Suffix for past tense (e.g., walked).
- Example: “He walked home.”
- Strategy: Great for hooking and forming compound verbs.
3. Em
- Definition: The letter “M.”
- Example: “The word starts with an em.”
- Strategy: Commonly used in puzzles; high point value.
4. En
- Definition: The letter “N.”
- Example: “Used in typesetting.”
- Strategy: Low scoring but useful for tight plays.
5. Eh
- Definition: An expression meaning “what?” or indifference.
- Example: “Eh, it’s okay.”
- Strategy: High scoring for such a short word.
6. Re
- Definition: Musical note; prefix meaning “again.”
- Example: “Let’s re-do the task.”
- Strategy: Ideal when building off R tiles.
7. Me
- Definition: Refers to oneself.
- Example: “It’s about me.”
- Strategy: Useful when extending personal pronouns.
8. He
- Definition: Refers to a male person.
- Example: “He is coming.”
- Strategy: Easy to use and adds good point potential.
9. We
- Definition: Refers to a group including the speaker.
- Example: “We are going.”
- Strategy: Ideal for plural references in tight board areas.
10. Ye
- Definition: Archaic form of “you.”
- Example: “Hear ye, hear ye!”
- Strategy: Historical context, uncommon but legal.
11. Pe
- Definition: The 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Example: “Pe follows Ayin.”
- Strategy: Unusual but strong point value.
🎯 Strategic Tips for Using 2 Letter Words with E
🧠 Hooking Techniques
“Hooking” is the act of adding a single letter to an existing word to form a new word. Example:
- Turn “H” into “He”
- Turn “B” into “Be”
- Add “E” to “H” → “Eh”
🔀 Crosswords and Parallel Plays
Words like “Me,” “Re,” and “We” are perfect for making multiple words at once, especially across premium spaces.
🔄 Tile Dumping
Short on vowels or need to ditch a high-point tile? Use Eh, Pe, or Be to clear your rack without wasting points.
🧮 Score Table for 2-Letter E Words
Word | Points | Bonus Tip |
Be | 4 | Use when B is on a double letter square |
Ed | 3 | Helps transition into longer verbs |
Em | 4 | Great for narrow slots |
En | 2 | Low cost, high efficiency |
Eh | 5 | Awesome quick play |
Re | 2 | Pair with musical or prefix-based words |
Me | 4 | Personal pronoun connection |
He | 5 | Good to bridge names |
We | 5 | Useful in plural settings |
Ye | 5 | Useful for historic wordplays |
Pe | 4 | High point for a niche word |
📚 External Resources to Expand Your Vocabulary
Explore these resources to get better at word games:
- WordFinder by YourDictionary – Filter by letter and length.
- Merriam-Webster Scrabble Tool – Great for definitions.
- Collins Scrabble Word Checker – UK Scrabble-approved words.
- Anagram Solver – Use to find 2-letter anagrams.
🧠 Memory Trick: Mnemonic for E Words
🎵 “Be Me, Re He, Eh Ed Pe!”
This silly sentence helps you recall 7 of the most common E-based two-letter words in one line. Break it into flashcards and test yourself!
🏁 Final Thoughts: Small Words, Big Wins
While they may seem insignificant, 2 letter words with E are some of the most strategically valuable words in Scrabble and other word games. Whether you’re playing on a phone app, a physical board, or in a competitive setting, knowing these words gives you:
- 📈 Scoring flexibility
- 🧠 Better board control
- 🗣️ Greater language mastery
Start practicing today — and remember, sometimes the smallest words make the biggest difference.