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animal

/ˈænəməl/
nounadjective

The Scrabble score for animal is 8 points, and the word has three anagrams.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 4 meanings

  1. A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia that is usually mobile, with cells that are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing them from plants and fungi) and derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms.

    “Near-synonym: critter”

  2. Any member of the kingdom Animalia other than a human.

  3. A higher animal; an animal related to humans.

    “When he's hungry my toddler opens his mouth like an animal instead of asking us to feed him.”

  4. A person of a particular type specified by an adjective.

    “He's a political animal.”

Adjective 3 meanings

  1. Of or relating to animals.

    “animal instincts”

  2. Raw, base, unhindered by social codes.

    “animal passions”

  3. Pertaining to the spirit or soul; relating to sensation or innervation.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English animal, from Old French animal, from Latin animal, a nominal use of the adjective form animāle, neuter of animālis, from anima (“breath, spirit”).

Similar and opposite words

Similar
critterbeastbeastiecreaturedeerbeastlybestialanimalistic

Animal is a common six-letter word, ranked 1,294 in our frequency list. Its Scrabble value is 8, and the M is the only tile worth more than 1 point. Use the sections below to check anagrams, rhymes and one-letter neighbours before you play.

How animal earns its 8 points

Five of the letters in animal are worth 1 point each. The M is worth 3, so it supplies most of the difference.

The total is 8, because 5 plus 3 gives 8. If the M sits on a triple-letter square, it counts for 9 instead of 3, which lifts the word to 14 points.

Because most of the score comes from single-point tiles, animal is a steady play rather than a big one. Players often gain more from a bonus square that opens a second word than from the few extra points here.

Anagrams and rhymes for animal

Only three words are anagrams of animal: manila, lamina and almain. All three use the same six letters, so they can come from the same rack.

Twelve words end in -mal, including normal, formal, mammal and dismal. That makes the -mal sound one of the most useful rhyme endings for this word.

Rhymes help with clues and wordplay, while anagrams help when you already hold the six letters and need a word fast. Both are worth a quick check before you give up on a rack.

Quick facts to check before you play

  • Scrabble value is 8 points, with the M worth 3 and every other letter worth 1.
  • Anagrams are manila, lamina and almain, so you can swap letters to test a rack.
  • Animas is the only word one letter away from animal in our data, so it is a near neighbour.
  • Animal is a common word, so most players will recognise it on sight and accept it without a dictionary check.

The anagram to treat with care

Note

Almain is the anagram to watch. It is the least familiar of the three and the one most likely to be challenged, so lead with manila or lamina when the rack allows.

Rhymes with animal

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest
  • ANIMAS8

Questions people ask

Is animal a valid Scrabble word?
Yes. Animal appears in Collins, NWL2023 and ENABLE, so it is accepted across the main Scrabble dictionaries. That makes it a safe play in most word games, though a house ruleset can still bar a word it does not list.
How many points is animal worth in Scrabble?
Animal is worth 8 points. Five of its letters score 1 point each, and the M scores 3, which adds up to 8. If the M sits on a triple-letter square, the word rises to 14 points.
Are there any anagrams of animal?
Yes, three of them: manila, lamina and almain. Each uses the same six letters, so they can be played from the same rack. Check that your game accepts almain, since it is the least familiar of the three.

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