50 Words That Start With QA and Their Meanings

Finding English words that begin with QA can be surprisingly difficult. The phrase words that start with QA points to a small group of unusual words. Many come from Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, and other languages.

Table of Contents

If you are searching for words that start with QA for a vocabulary activity or word game, this list can help. It includes common dictionary entries, plurals, and less-common forms found in broader English word lists. Some of these words are rare in everyday speech.

50 Words That Start With QA

Here are 50 useful entries with simple meanings.

#	Word	Meaning
1	qabala	An alternative spelling of Kabbalah, a system of Jewish mystical teachings.
2	qabalah	A system of Jewish mystical teachings based on esoteric interpretation.
3	qabalahs	Plural of qabalah.
4	qabalism	Another form of cabalism; the study or practice of mystical teachings.
5	qabalisms	Plural of qabalism.
6	qabalist	A person who follows or studies Qabalistic teachings.
7	qabalists	Plural of qabalist.
8	qabalistic	Related to Qabalistic or mystical teachings.
9	qabalistical	Another form of qabalistic.
10	qabalistically	In a qabalistic or mystical manner.
11	qadi	A judge who applies Islamic law.
12	qadis	Plural of qadi.
13	qaid	A local military or political leader in North Africa.
14	qaids	Plural of qaid.
15	qaimaqam	A former title for a local governor or administrative official in parts of the Ottoman Empire.
16	qaimaqams	Plural of qaimaqam.
17	qajaq	A traditional Inuit kayak.
18	qajaqs	Plural of qajaq.
19	qalamdan	A traditional case used for holding pens and writing materials.
20	qalamdans	Plural of qalamdan.
21	qamutik	A traditional Inuit sled used for transportation.
22	qamutiks	Plural of qamutik.
23	qamutiik	An alternative spelling of qamutik.
24	qamutiqs	Plural form of qamutiq.
25	qanat	An underground channel used to carry water from a source to another location.
26	qanats	Plural of qanat.
27	qapik	A traditional Inuit term for a monetary unit or small coin.
28	qapiks	Plural of qapik.
29	qasida	A traditional Arabic or Persian poem, often written in praise of someone.
30	qasidas	Plural of qasida.
31	qat	A shrub whose leaves are traditionally chewed as a stimulant.
32	qats	Plural of qat.
33	qawwal	A singer who performs qawwali music.
34	qawwals	Plural of qawwal.
35	qawwali	A form of devotional music associated with South Asia.
36	qawwalis	Plural of qawwali.
37	qameez	A long shirt or tunic worn in South Asian and Middle Eastern clothing.
38	qameezes	Plural of qameez.
39	qalandar	A wandering Muslim holy person or mystic.
40	qalandars	Plural of qalandar.
41	qafilah	A caravan or group traveling together, especially in historical contexts.
42	qafilahs	Plural of qafilah.
43	qafila	An alternative spelling of qafilah or cafila, meaning a caravan.
44	qafilas	Plural of qafila.
45	qadarite	A follower of an early Islamic theological view concerning free will.
46	qadarites	Plural of qadarite.
47	qabbala	A variant spelling related to qabala and Kabbalah.
48	qabbalah	A variant spelling of Kabbalah.
49	qabbalahs	Plural of qabbalah.
50	qabab	An alternative spelling of kebab.

The exact number of entries can change depending on the dictionary or word-game list used. For example, the official Merriam-Webster Scrabble finder lists 20 QA entries, while broader word lists contain additional forms such as qabalistical and qabalistically.

Why Are QA Words So Uncommon?

English does not often use Q followed immediately by A. The letter Q usually appears with U, as in “quick,” “queen,” and “question.”

Many words that start with QA entered English from other languages. Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, and Inuit languages are important sources for several entries on this list. This is why the words can look unfamiliar.

Short QA Words for Word Games

Several short entries can be useful in word games. Qat has only three letters. Qadi, qaid, and qats have four letters.

Five-letter options include qadis, qaids, qajaq, qanat, and qapik. These words appear in different word-game dictionaries, so always check the specific game’s accepted word list before playing them.

Interesting Longer QA Words

Some longer entries are especially interesting because they describe people, traditions, objects, or cultural ideas.

Qabalistic relates to mystical teachings. Qaimaqam refers to a historical administrative title. Qawwali describes a South Asian devotional music tradition. Qamutik refers to a traditional Inuit sled.

These words show how vocabulary can travel between languages and cultures.

How to Use These Words

You can use this list for vocabulary practice, spelling activities, crossword puzzles, and word games. It can also help students explore words that have entered English from other languages.

When learning an unfamiliar word, focus first on its basic meaning. Then look at how it is used in a sentence. This makes unusual vocabulary easier to remember.

Conclusion

This list shows that words that start with QA are uncommon but interesting. Many describe cultural traditions, historical titles, objects, and forms of art.

Whether you need vocabulary for school or unusual entries for a word game, these 50 words offer plenty of options. Always check the dictionary used by your specific game because word lists can differ.

FAQs About Words That Start With QA

1. How many words that start with QA are there?

The number depends on the dictionary. The official Merriam-Webster Scrabble list currently shows 20 entries, while broader word lists contain more forms and variants.

2. What are some easy words that start with QA?

Some shorter words that start with QA include qat, qadi, qaid, qats, qanat, and qajaq. These are useful choices for word games and vocabulary practice.

3. Are words that start with QA accepted in Scrabble?

Some words that start with QA are accepted in Scrabble. However, accepted words can differ between U.S. and international dictionaries, so checking the correct word list is important.

4. What is the shortest word that starts with QA?

Among common English word-game entries, qat is a three-letter word. It refers to a shrub whose leaves are traditionally chewed for their stimulant effects.

5. Why are words that start with QA unusual?

Most words that start with QA are uncommon because English rarely uses Q without U. Many of these terms come from languages where the Q+A combination occurs naturally. This gives them unusual spellings and meanings.