KAT (also spelled khat or qat) is an evergreen shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, whose leaves contain a stimulant and are chewed for their effects. It's a strategic K-word in Scrabble.
Yes. KAT is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 7 points in Scrabble, 7 in Words With Friends and 7 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | K | A | T | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Words With Friends | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Wordfeud | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
KAT refers to Catha edulis, an evergreen shrub that has been cultivated and used for centuries in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The plant's fresh leaves and shoots contain cathinone, a stimulant alkaloid that produces effects similar to mild amphetamines when chewed.
In Yemen, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, chewing kat leaves is a deeply embedded social and cultural practice. Users typically gather in afternoon sessions called "kat chews" or "mafresh," where fresh leaves are chewed slowly over several hours while engaging in conversation. The practice dates back at least to the 13th century and plays a significant role in social, economic, and political life in these regions.
The botanical name Catha edulis literally means "edible catha," and the plant belongs to the Celastraceae family. It grows as a slow-growing evergreen shrub or tree that can reach 1-5 meters in cultivation, though wild specimens may grow up to 25 meters tall. The leaves must be consumed fresh, as the active compounds degrade within 48 hours of harvesting.
The word "kat" comes from Arabic قات (qāt), which has been transliterated into English in multiple ways: kat, khat, qat, gat, and chat. The Arabic term itself may derive from the Amharic word ጫት (ch'at), reflecting the plant's Ethiopian origins.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of KAT.
Hooks: front IKAT, SKAT; back KATA, KATS.
Words inside KAT: 3 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: KAATTA. See all words from KAT.