115+ Words Without Vowels With Their Meanings & Examples (2024)

In this article, you’ll find a list of 115 English words without vowels along with their meanings and examples. You’ll also discover which of these words can be used in Scrabble!

Believe it or not, there are over 100 words without vowels in English and the majority of them can be used in Scrabble!

At first, this might seem impossible. After all, it would be logical to think that every word needs at least one vowel, but that’s not always true. Some English words rely solely on consonants, making them unique and fascinating.

Words without vowels challenge our understanding of the English language. They stand out because they break traditional rules, yet still make sense in context. When you discover these words, you’ll see how adaptable English can be.

Some words may surprise you, as they don’t follow the usual spelling patterns. But, if you can remember them you’ll soon be able to show off your English prowess in word games with your friends and expand your vocabulary in the process.

What Defines a Vowel-less Word?

A vowel-less word lacks the standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U). In some cases, the letter ‘Y’ steps in as a semi-vowel. Words without vowels rely on the ‘Y’ or sometimes other sounds to form syllables. Below you’ll find two separate lists, one for words with ‘Y’ and one for words without ‘Y’.

Words Without Vowels

If you’re wondering what words have no vowels, then look no further! We’ll start off with words without vowels with ‘Y’ and then move on to words without vowels or ‘Y’.

Words Without Vowels With Y

By: A preposition indicating proximity or the agent in a passive construction.
He sat by the window, watching the rain.

Byrl(s): A term referring to a burial shroud or covering.
They wrapped the body in a byrl before burial.

Chynd: A variant spelling of “chined,” meaning to cut or break a spine.
The butcher chynd the meat for easier carving.

Cly: An archaic term meaning to seize or take hold of something.
He cly the rope tightly as he climbed.

Cry: To shed tears or make a loud sound of distress.
She began to cry during the emotional scene.

Crypt(s): An underground burial vault.
The ancient crypt held treasures long forgotten.

Cyst(s): A sac-like pocket of tissue that can contain fluid or other material.
The doctor removed the cyst during the procedure.

Dry(ly)(s): Lacking moisture or expressionless in tone.
He replied dryly to the joke, unimpressed.

Fly: To move through the air with wings.
The bird began to fly across the open sky.

Flyby(s): A flight close to a celestial object or another location.
The spacecraft made a flyby of the planet.

Fry: To cook food in hot oil or fat.
She will fry the potatoes until golden brown.

Fy: An exclamation of disgust or disapproval.
“Fy on you for such behavior!”

Fyrd(s): A term for a local militia in early English times.
The village fyrd gathered to defend their land.

Ghyll(s): A narrow mountain stream.
They hiked along the ghyll, admiring the rushing water.

Glycyl(s): A chemical compound derived from glycine.
The lab is studying glycyl compounds for medical use.

Glyph(s): A symbol or character carved or inscribed.
Ancient glyphs covered the walls of the temple.

Gym(s): A place for physical exercise and sports.
He goes to the gym every morning to stay fit.

Gyp: A slang term for cheating or swindling.
They felt they got gyp after seeing the bill.

Gyppy: Slang for feeling sick, especially with stomach trouble.
He was feeling gyppy after the questionable meal.

Gyp(s): To cheat or swindle someone.
She got gypped out of her rightful share of the money.

Gypsy: A member of a traditionally nomadic ethnic group.
The gypsy played lively music at the festival.

Hwyl(s): A passionate emotion or spirit, often associated with Welsh speakers.
He spoke with such hwyl that everyone was captivated.

Hymn(s): A religious song or ode praising God.
The choir sang a moving hymn during the service.

Hyp(s): A variant of “hip,” often used in anatomy or slang.
He felt a sharp pain in his hyp after the fall.

Jynx: A bird known for turning its head in a snake-like manner, or something causing bad luck.
They believed a jynx was behind their misfortunes.

Ky: An archaic plural of “cow.”
The ky grazed peacefully in the field.

Lym(s): An obsolete term for a type of hunting dog.
The lyms were trained to track deer through the woods.

Lymph(s): A clear fluid in the body that helps remove waste from tissues.
The doctor checked her lymph nodes for swelling.

Lynch: To kill someone, especially by hanging, without a legal trial.
The mob threatened to lynch the accused without evidence.

Lynx: A wild cat with a short tail and tufted ears.
The lynx prowled through the snow-covered forest.

My: A possessive pronoun.
This is my favorite book of all time.

Myrrh(s): A fragrant resin used in incense and perfumes.
They brought myrrh as a gift for the newborn king.

Myth: A traditional story explaining natural or social phenomena.
The myth of the phoenix is known worldwide.

Ny(s): An obsolete plural of “new.”
The nys traditions felt refreshing and exciting.

Nymph(ly)(s): A mythological spirit of nature, often depicted as a beautiful maiden.
The forest nymph danced by the river’s edge.

Ply: To work diligently at something, often used with tools or a trade.
The carpenter began to ply his trade with skill.

Pry(s): To inquire too curiously or force something open.
She tried to pry into his private life without permission.

Psych: To prepare mentally or trick someone’s mind.
He tried to psych himself up before the big game.

Pygmy: A member of an ethnic group of short stature, or something very small.
The pygmy tribes of Africa are known for their culture.

Pyx: A container used in religious ceremonies to carry the Eucharist.
The priest carefully handled the sacred pyx.

Rhy: An obsolete term meaning a shallow, narrow valley.
The village was located in the heart of the rhy.

Rhythm(s): A strong, regular repeated pattern of sound or movement.
The rhythm of the drums echoed through the night.

Rynd(s): An iron support in a millstone.
The old rynd needed replacing after years of wear.

Scry: To foretell the future using a crystal ball or other reflective surface.
The fortune-teller began to scry into the dark crystal.

Shy(ly): Being reserved or nervous around others.
She smiled shyly as she was introduced to the crowd.

Sky: The expanse of air over the Earth, seen when looking upwards.
The sky was clear and blue on a sunny day.

Skyr: An Icelandic cultured dairy product, similar to yogurt.
They enjoyed a bowl of skyr with fruit for breakfast.

Sly(ly): Crafty or deceitful in behavior.
He grinned slyly after pulling off the prank.

Spry(ly): Active and energetic, especially for one’s age.
The old man walked spryly down the street.

Spy: To observe someone secretly or gather information.
He worked as a spy during the war, collecting intelligence.

Sty: A pen or enclosure for pigs.
The farmer cleaned the sty every morning.

Stymy: A situation where progress is blocked or hindered.
The negotiation reached a stymy with neither side willing to budge.

Swy: An old term for a swath or area of grassland.
The cattle grazed peacefully in the wide swy.

Sylph(s): A slender, graceful figure or a mythological air spirit.
The dancer moved like a graceful sylph across the stage.

Syn: A contraction of “since.”
He hadn’t been here syn the festival last year.

Sync(s): To cause to operate at the same time or rate.
He tried to sync his watch with the train schedule.

Synch(s): A synchronization, or to coordinate two things to happen together.
They worked to synch the film with the soundtrack.

Synd(s): An abbreviation for syndicate or group collaboration.
The synd organized all the local events.

Syzygy: The alignment of celestial bodies, typically during an eclipse.
During the syzygy, the sun, moon, and Earth were perfectly aligned.

Thy: An old or poetic form of “your.”
Honor thy parents, as the proverb says.

Thymy: Full of thyme or having the fragrance of the herb.
The garden was thymy, filling the air with its scent.

Try: To make an effort or attempt something.
He will try again tomorrow to reach the top of the hill.

Tryp(s): A contraction used in biochemistry to refer to tryptophan.
The tryp levels in the sample were higher than expected.

Tryst(s): A secret meeting between lovers.
The couple arranged a secret tryst by the old oak tree.

Twyndyllyng(s): An old term for twin.
The twyndyllyngs were inseparable from birth.

Tyg(s): A large ceramic cup or jug with multiple handles.
The tyg was passed around at the medieval feast.

Typp(s): An old variation of “type.”
The typp of print used was ornate and difficult to read.

Tyyn: A form of currency in some languages.
The merchant gave him change in tyyn after the sale.

Vly: A marshy or swampy area.
They trudged through the muddy vly on their journey.

Why(s): A question asking for reason or explanation.
She couldn’t understand the why behind his decision.

Wyn(s): A runic letter representing joy or happiness.
The ancient text contained the symbol of wyn.

Wynn: A rune representing bliss or delight.
He studied the ancient carvings and found the wynn symbol.

Wry(ly): Expressing dry, mocking humor.
He smiled wryly at the irony of the situation.

Wych: A kind of tree or branch, often used in older texts.
The wych trees lined the path with their twisted branches.

Wynd(s): A narrow lane or street.
They followed the wynd down to the old town square.

Xylyl(s): A chemical radical derived from xylene.
The scientist measured the amount of xylyl in the mixture.

Xyst(s): A covered portico or walkway in ancient Greek architecture.
They walked along the xyst, admiring the ancient structure.

Ympt: An archaic term for grafting a tree.
The gardener carefully ympt the branches to encourage growth.

Which of These Words Are Accepted in Scrabble?

All of these words are accepted in Scrabble. However, for some rare forms like tyyn, typp, and twyndyllyng, you’ll need to verify the specific Scrabble dictionary being used, as they may or may not be accepted depending on regional or official lists.

If you’re playing with an official Scrabble dictionary (like the North American Official Scrabble Players Dictionary or the Collins Scrabble Words used in international play), always double-check if the game’s built-in word checker allows a particular word before challenging!

Words Without Vowels or Y

Brr: A sound made to indicate coldness or a chill.
He shivered and said, brr, it’s freezing out here!

Brrr: An extended form of “brr,” expressing a stronger reaction to cold.
She wrapped her scarf tighter, muttering brrr under her breath.

Bzzt: An onomatopoeic sound, often representing a buzzing noise.
The phone vibrated with a loud bzzt.

Ch: An exclamation, often used to catch someone’s attention.
He made a sharp ch sound to quiet the room.

Crwth(s): An ancient stringed musical instrument, similar to a violin.
The musician played a haunting melody on the crwth.

Cwm(s): A Welsh term for a valley or basin, especially one formed by glacial activity.
They hiked through the rugged cwm, admiring the view.

Cwtch: A Welsh word meaning a hug or a safe, cozy space.
She gave him a warm cwtch to comfort him.

Grr: An onomatopoeic sound indicating frustration or anger.
He clenched his fists and growled, grr.

Grrl(s): A feminist term often used to describe a strong, independent woman.
The grrls marched for equality with determination.

Grrr: A stronger expression of frustration or anger than “grr.”
She stomped her foot, muttering, grrr, this is so annoying!

Grrrl(s): A variant of “grrl,” emphasizing the feminist movement.
The grrrls gathered for the rally in the city square.

Hm: A sound made when thinking or showing hesitation.
He rubbed his chin and said, hm, that’s an interesting point.

Hmph: A sound expressing annoyance or dissatisfaction.
She crossed her arms and said, hmph, I don’t care.

Hmm: A thoughtful sound, showing consideration or uncertainty.
She tapped her fingers and said, hmm, let me think.

Hmmm: A longer version of “hmm,” expressing deeper contemplation.
He furrowed his brow and said, hmmm, I’ll have to ponder that.

Mhmm: A sound expressing agreement or affirmation.
She nodded and said, mhmm, that’s right.

Mm: A short sound made when agreeing or thinking.
He quietly said, mm, as he listened to the conversation.

Mmm: A sound expressing enjoyment, often of food or something pleasurable.
He took a bite of the dessert and said, mmm, delicious!

Nth: Refers to an unspecified large number in a sequence.
She asked him for the nth time to clean his room.

Pfft: A dismissive or sarcastic sound.
He rolled his eyes and said, pfft, yeah right.

Phpht: A sound indicating disbelief or dismissal, similar to “pfft.”
He waved his hand, saying, phpht, that’s not true.

Pht: A short, dismissive sound, often used to express disapproval.
She shook her head and said, pht, I doubt it.

Psst: A soft sound made to get someone’s attention quietly.
She leaned over and whispered, psst, look at this.

Pwn(s): A slang term meaning to dominate or defeat someone, especially in gaming.
He totally pwned his opponent in the final round.

Rng: Abbreviation for “random number generator,” used in gaming and programming contexts.
The rng determined the outcome of the in-game event.

Sh: A short sound to quiet someone down.
He raised a finger to his lips and said, sh, don’t make a sound.

Shh: A longer version of “sh,” used to quiet someone.
She held the baby and whispered, shh, it’s okay.

Sknch: A sound representing something being squashed or crunched.
The boots made a sknch sound as they stepped in the mud.

Sksksksk: A sound often associated with laughter or rapid keyboard typing.
She laughed, making a sksksksk noise when something funny happened.

Tsk(s): A sound made by the tongue against the teeth, expressing disapproval.
She made a tsk sound when he dropped the glass.

Tss: A sharp sound expressing disapproval or warning.
The teacher made a tss noise to get their attention.

Tsktsk(s): A repeated “tsk” sound, emphasizing disapproval.
He made a tsktsk sound when they ignored the rules.

Twp: A Welsh word meaning stupid or foolish.
He made a twp mistake and forgot his keys.

Zzz: An onomatopoeic sound representing sleep or snoring.
The comic character had zzz above his head as he slept.

Which of These Words Are Accepted in Scrabble?

Most of the words in this list can be used in Scrabble, while a few may not be accepted due to specific rules or limitations. Here’s a general breakdown:

Accepted in Scrabble:

• Brr
• Brrr
• Crwth(s)
• Cwm(s)
• Grr
• Hm
• Hmph
• Hmm
• Mhmm
• Mmm
• Nth
• Pfft
• Pht
• Psst
• Sh
• Shh
• Tsk(s)
• Tss
• Twp
• Zzz

These words are usually acceptable because they are recognized as part of the English language or onomatopoeic sounds. However, it’s important to note that some variations, especially those with multiple repeated letters like Brrr, Grrr, and Hmmmm, may not be allowed in all versions of Scrabble depending on the dictionary you’re using.

Not Accepted in Scrabble:

• Bzzt
• Cwtch
• Grrl(s), Grrrl(s), Grrr (some slang or variant forms might not be accepted)
• Phpht
• Pwn(s) (slang/gaming term)
• Rng (abbreviation)
• Sknch
• Sksksksk
• Tsktsk(s) (repeated onomatopoeia like “tsktsk” may not be allowed in some dictionaries)

Once again, it’s always a good idea to check the specific Scrabble dictionary you are using (like the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary or Collins Scrabble Words) for verification before playing any of these words!

How to Use Words Without Vowels

These vowel-less words may not appear in daily conversation, but they still have their place. You might encounter them in puzzles, word games, or specialized contexts.

Learning these words will improve your vocabulary and sharpen your skills for games like Scrabble or crossword puzzles. Who knows when you might need them?!

Give Vowel-less Words a Try

Words without vowels aren’t a myth! Understanding vowel-less words will add a unique dimension to your vocabulary. Once you get into the rhythm of using them they remind you that the English language is more flexible than it seems!