PE is included in the ODS9, the official reference for francophone Scrabble in effect since January 1, 2024. Its presence on the list is not trivial: it concretely modifies the connection options on the board, and its stability in the dictionary until the end of 2027 makes it a reliable tool for preparation in clubs and tournaments.
Admission Criteria in the ODS: Why PE Passes the Filter and Others Do Not
The selection of entries in the ODS does not replicate that of mainstream dictionaries. The committee of the FISF (Fédération Internationale de Scrabble Francophone) applies specific criteria, distinct from those of Petit Robert or Larousse.
A two-letter word must first exist as an autonomous lexical entry in at least one recognized reference source. PE meets this condition: it designates the seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (פ, final form ף). This definition is sufficient to justify its admission, just like other letter names from Semitic alphabets present in the ODS.
We regularly observe disputes in clubs over short words deemed “too exotic.” The confusion arises from the fact that the ODS does not measure the frequency of common usage, but rather documented lexicographical existence. A rare word but attested in the sources retained by the FISF has as much legitimacy as a word from everyday use.
Another point that usual content does not address: abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms are generally excluded from the ODS. PE as an acronym for “polyethylene” would therefore not be acceptable. It is indeed the masculine noun designating the Hebrew letter that establishes the validity of the word pe in Scrabble, not its chemical homonym.
PE in Scrabble: Point Value and Profitable Play Positions
With a P worth 3 points and an E worth 1 point, PE scores 4 raw points. This is modest in absolute value, but the profitability of a short word is measured by the points/occupied squares ratio.
Placing PE parallel to an existing word allows for the simultaneous formation of two valid words in a single play. This is the technique of “collage,” fundamental in competitive Scrabble. With PE, the collage combinations are numerous because the P easily connects to vowels and certain common consonants.
Collages and Extensions Usable with PE
The strength of PE does not lie in the word itself, but in the extensions it allows. Here are the most concrete play axes:
- Front extension: words like CAPE, TAPE, DUPE, COUPE can be formed by placing the missing letters in front of or around PE already on the board.
- Back extension: PEU, PEN, PEC, PET are all valid three-letter words that transform an isolated PE into a new anchor point.
- Vertical collage: placing PE vertically against a horizontal word creates two intersections. If both crossings form valid words, the score multiplies, especially on a multiplier square.
In summary, PE functions as a connector that opens lines of play rather than as a high-yield direct play.
Stability of ODS9 Until 2027: What This Changes for Preparation
The ODS9 is fixed until the end of 2027. No words will be added or removed before the next edition. For players who invest time in memorizing two-letter words, this stability has a direct consequence: the current list of two-letter words is reliable for several seasons of competition.
In tournaments, contesting a valid word costs penalty points. We recommend memorizing all the two-letter words from ODS9 as a minimal preparation foundation. PE is part of this, and its status will not change before the potential publication of an ODS10.
Tricky Two-Letter Words Close to PE
The difficulty does not come from PE itself, but from its neighbors on the list. Some two-letter words that one might think are valid are not, and vice versa.
- PU is not valid in ODS9, which regularly traps casual players.
- PI is valid (Greek letter), as is PH (interjection).
- PA does not appear on the official list, despite its common usage in speech.
Knowing these distinctions avoids unnecessary disputes and rejected plays. The boundary between a valid word and a rejected word often hinges on a precise lexicographical criterion, not on the player’s linguistic intuition.
PE in an Endgame Strategy in Scrabble
Two-letter words take on disproportionate importance in the endgame when the board is saturated and free spaces are reduced. PE, with its moderately frequent consonant and common vowel, offers a release solution when long lines are blocked.
In the endgame, quickly emptying one’s rack is often more profitable than looking for a spectacular play. Placing PE to unload a cumbersome P, especially if no open line allows it to be placed in a longer word, is a calculation of minimizing losses.
We observe in competition that players who master two-letter words finish their games with fewer residual points on their rack. PE is part of this repertoire of “tool words” that do not win a game on their own, but whose absence leads to point losses over the duration of a tournament.
The question is not whether PE is a spectacular asset. It is a service word, validated by ODS9 and stable until 2027, that fulfills a specific function in the toolbox of the competitive scrabble player. Ignoring it is to deprive oneself of a connection and release option that, accumulated over several games, makes the difference.
