PHARAOH was the title used for the rulers of ancient Egypt, considered divine kings who governed both the earthly kingdom and served as intermediaries between gods and people. The word comes from Egyptian "per-aa" meaning "great house." In word games, PHARAOH is valuable as a 7-letter word that can earn the 50-point bingo bonus, worth 15 base points in Scrabble due to the high-value H tiles.
Yes. PHARAOH is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 15 points in Scrabble, 14 in Words With Friends and 16 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | P | H | A | R | A | O | H | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 16 |
A PHARAOH was the supreme ruler of ancient Egypt, holding absolute power as both political leader and religious figure. These monarchs were believed to be living gods, specifically incarnations of the god Horus, and served as the intermediary between the divine realm and earthly subjects. The pharaoh's authority was considered divinely sanctioned, making their word law and their person sacred.
The role of pharaoh encompassed numerous responsibilities: commanding the military, overseeing massive construction projects (including pyramids and temples), maintaining religious ceremonies, administering justice, and ensuring the prosperity of the kingdom through proper management of the Nile's annual flood cycle. Pharaohs were expected to maintain Ma'at (cosmic order and truth), which was essential for Egypt's stability and prosperity.
In modern usage, "pharaoh" has become synonymous with supreme power, often applied metaphorically to authoritarian leaders or those who wield absolute control. The word evokes images of grandeur, mystery, and ancient wisdom, frequently appearing in literature, film, and popular culture as a symbol of both magnificent achievement and potentially dangerous absolute power.
The word pharaoh originates from the ancient Egyptian "per-aa" (𓉐𓉻), which literally means "great house" or "palace." Originally, this term referred not to the king himself, but to the royal palace or court. Over time, it evolved to represent the king by metonymy—referring to the ruler by his residence, similar to how we might say "The White House announced" to mean the U.S. President announced.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of PHARAOH.
Hooks: no front hooks; back PHARAOHS.
Words inside PHARAOH: 35 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: HORAHHAHAHAHHARPOPAHHAPHOPPAHPOHHAARHOARHORA. See all words from PHARAOH.