PEL is a unit of currency in Botswana, equal to 100 thebe. In word games, this 3-letter word provides solid point value with its P tile.
No. PEL is not in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools (proper nouns, abbreviations and most slang are excluded), so it cannot be played in Scrabble, Words With Friends or Wordfeud. If it were allowed, its tiles would add up to 5 points in Scrabble.
| Letter | P | E | L | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
PEL refers to a pixel, the smallest controllable element of a picture on a screen. The term is a contraction of "picture element," fundamental to digital imaging. Each pel represents a single point in a raster image, with millions combining to create the images we see on displays. In computing and digital photography, pels are the building blocks of visual information. Screen resolution is measured in pels, with higher pel counts producing sharper images. The concept bridges art and technology, as digital artists work at the pel level for precise control. Key aspects of PEL: Display technology: Basic unit of screens Image quality: More pels mean higher resolution Digital art: Pixel art works at pel level Computing: Fundamental to graphics processing
The word pel emerged in the 1960s as a shortened form of "pixel," itself a portmanteau of "picture element." The term was coined by computer graphics researchers who needed concise terminology for the smallest addressable screen element. While "pixel" became the dominant term, "pel" persists in technical contexts, particularly in IBM documentation and certain imaging standards. The word reflects the early days of computer graphics when researchers were establishing fundamental concepts that would revolutionize visual media. Interestingly, "pel" predates widespread digital imaging, originating when computer displays were primitive compared to today's high-resolution screens.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of PEL.
Words inside PEL: 2 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: PEEL. See all words from PEL.