7-letter words with Q as the 1st letter and A as the 6th letter

This fixed pattern is a narrow one: every match begins with Q, and A sits just before the final letter. QUETZAL leads the scoring list at 25 points, while QUOKKAS follows at 24. None of the matches rank among the 25,000 most common English words, so expect a specialist vocabulary list rather than everyday guesses.

At a glance: the Q-and-A pattern

• There are 19 tournament-dictionary words with Q first and A sixth.
• QUETZAL scores 25 points; QUOKKAS is next at 24.
• Collins includes all 19 matches; NWL2023 includes 17 and ENABLE includes 14.
• Seven words end in S, while four end in L.

How many 7-letter words have Q first and A sixth?

There are 19 matches across the tournament dictionaries. The dictionary split matters: a Collins word is not automatically playable in an NWL2023 or ENABLE game, and the narrower lists leave out some entries. Check your game's word list before committing an unfamiliar match.

The endings offer a quick way to sort candidates. S is the most common final letter, with seven words; L follows with four. QUINTAS ends in S, while QUINTAL and QUETZAL end in L.

QUINTAL and QUINTAS share their first six letters, so the last tile is the only clue that separates them.

Which matches stand out for scoring?

QUETZAL is the top scorer at 25 points, with QUOKKAS close behind at 24. QABALAH scores 21, and QUONDAM reaches 19. Those are strong face-value totals, but a premium square or a longer board play can change the result.

For a puzzle, lock in the known positions before testing obscure spellings: Q _ _ _ _ A _ is the pattern. QUINTAL, QUINTAS, QUADRAT, and QUANTAL are among the named matches. Keep the rarity in mind: zero entries meet the common-word cutoff, so the dictionary version matters more than familiarity.