Words Ending in AL
Browse words ending in AL — adjectives and nouns covering many common English words. Great for Scrabble, crosswords, Wordle, and vocabulary building.
About -AL Words
Words ending in -AL span two main categories: adjectives meaning "relating to" (LEGAL relating to law, LOCAL relating to a place, VOCAL relating to voice) and standalone words where -AL is part of the root (MEAL, DEAL, REAL, GOAL, COAL). The -AL suffix is extremely common because it was inherited from Latin (-ALIS) through French, giving English a huge stock of -AL adjectives across medicine, law, science, and the arts.
💡 Scrabble Tip
In Scrabble, -AL words are abundant. ROYAL (7 pts), EQUAL (14 pts using Q), RIVAL (8 pts), LOYAL (7 pts), and LEGAL (6 pts) are all useful plays. Short -AL words like REAL (4 pts), DEAL (5 pts), GOAL (5 pts), and MEAL (6 pts) serve as valuable board hooks.
Example Words Ending in -AL
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common words ending in AL?
Common -AL words include FINAL, LEGAL, LOCAL, VOCAL, ROYAL, LOYAL, RIVAL, MORAL, TOTAL, METAL, SIGNAL, ANIMAL, and MUSICAL. Both adjectives (LEGAL, VOCAL) and nouns (SIGNAL, METAL) end in -AL.
What short words end in AL?
Short -AL words include REAL (4), DEAL (4), MEAL (4), SEAL (4), HEAL (4), GOAL (4), COAL (4), OVAL (4), ORAL (4), and DUAL (4). These 4-letter -AL words are extremely common in crosswords and as Scrabble board hooks.
Are AL words good in Scrabble?
-AL words are bread-and-butter Scrabble plays. EQUAL (14 pts) is exceptional thanks to the Q. ROYAL (7 pts), RIVAL (8 pts), and LOYAL (7 pts) are solid mid-game plays. Short words like DEAL (5 pts) and MEAL (6 pts) set up parallel plays on double/triple squares.
What is the difference between AL and EL endings?
Both -AL and -EL appear at the end of many English words. -AL is typically an adjectival suffix (LEGAL, LOCAL) or part of a noun (METAL, SIGNAL). -EL is often part of the root word itself (LEVEL, NOVEL, HOTEL) rather than a true suffix. Most dictionary spell-checkers accept both in common alternates like JEWEL/JEWAL (JEWEL wins).