TWL vs CSW — explained

Scrabble uses official word lists to determine which words are valid. The two main English dictionaries are TWL and CSW, and they follow different rules.

TWL — North America dictionary

• Used in the United States and Canada
• Based on American English
• Smaller and more restrictive word list

CSW — International & Wordfeud dictionary

• Used internationally and in most Wordfeud games
• Includes British and other English variants
• Larger and more inclusive word list

Key differences between TWL and CSW

• CSW contains more valid words than TWL
• A word may be valid in CSW but invalid in TWL
• Gameplay can differ depending on which dictionary is used

Which dictionary should you use?

• Use TWL for Scrabble in the United States and Canada
• Use CSW for international Scrabble and Wordfeud

Choosing the correct dictionary ensures that all generated words are valid in your game.