BURQA (also spelled burka or burkha) is a full-body covering worn by some Muslim women that covers the entire face and body, leaving only a mesh screen to see through. The term comes from Arabic and represents one of several types of Islamic veiling practices. In word games, BURQA is particularly valuable as one of the rare "Q without U" words, and the Q tile's 10-point value makes it a strategic play.
Yes. BURQA is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 16 points in Scrabble, 18 in Words With Friends and 18 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | B | U | R | Q | A | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 16 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 18 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 18 |
A BURQA is an enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions to cover their bodies when in public. The most complete form of veiling, it covers the entire body from head to toe, including the face, with a grille or mesh screen over the eyes to allow the wearer to see. The garment typically consists of a long, loose robe and a separate head covering.
The burqa is distinct from other forms of Islamic dress such as the hijab (which covers the hair and neck), the niqab (which covers the face but leaves the eyes visible), or the chador (which covers the body but leaves the face exposed). The burqa is most commonly associated with Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan, though its use varies significantly across different Muslim communities and cultures.
In contemporary discourse, the burqa has become a symbol in debates about religious freedom, women's rights, cultural identity, and secularism. Different societies and individuals hold varying perspectives on its significance, ranging from viewing it as a religious obligation or cultural tradition to seeing it as a tool of oppression or a personal choice of modesty and faith expression.
The word burqa comes from the Arabic "برقع" (burqu'), which originally referred to a face veil that left the eyes uncovered. The term is derived from the root "برقع" meaning "to veil" or "to cover." The word entered English through Urdu and Persian, reflecting the garment's use across different Islamic cultures.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of BURQA.
Hooks: no front hooks; back BURQAS.
Words inside BURQA: 11 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: QUABURAARBBARBRABURRUBURBABBAAR. See all words from BURQA.