kwah, kway
Qua means "in the capacity of" or "as being." It's a Latin preposition used in formal English to indicate the specific role or capacity in which someone or something is being considered.
12
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
💡 Pro Tip:
QUA is worth 12 points in Scrabble and is one of the easiest Q words to play since it follows the normal Q-U pattern. Perfect for when you need to use your Q quickly!
Qua is a Latin preposition that has been adopted into formal English, meaning "in the capacity of," "as being," or "in the character of." It's used to specify the particular aspect or role in which someone or something is being considered.
In academic and philosophical writing, qua is employed to make precise distinctions. For example, "The president qua commander-in-chief has certain powers" means the president has these powers specifically in their role as commander-in-chief, not in their other capacities.
While relatively uncommon in everyday speech, qua remains an important word in legal, philosophical, and academic contexts where precision of meaning is crucial. In word games, it's particularly valuable due to the high-scoring Q tile.
Qua comes directly from Latin, where it served as the ablative singular feminine form of the relative pronoun "qui" (who, which). In Latin, it literally meant "by which" or "as."
The word entered English in the 17th century through scholarly and legal writing, where Latin phrases were commonly used. Unlike many Latin borrowings that evolved in meaning, qua has retained its original sense remarkably well.
Its preservation in academic English reflects the precision it offers - there's no exact English equivalent that captures the same nuance of "in the specific capacity of" in a single word.
In philosophical discourse, qua is indispensable for making ontological distinctions. Aristotle's concept of "being qua being" examines existence in its most fundamental aspect, separate from any particular manifestations.
Legal scholars use qua to distinguish between different roles or capacities. For instance, "a trustee qua trustee" refers to someone acting specifically in their fiduciary capacity, not as a private individual.
In academic writing across disciplines, qua helps writers achieve clarity when discussing complex relationships between identity, role, and function.
Latin phrase meaning "without which not" - an essential condition or requirement
Philosophical concept examining existence in its purest form
Considering someone purely in their capacity as an artist
•The Q (10 points) in QUA makes it particularly valuable
•High-value letters should be saved for double or triple letter score squares when possible
•QUA can be a game-winning play when used strategically
"The judge qua judge must remain impartial, though as a citizen she may have personal opinions."
- Legal textbook example
"We must consider the work qua literature, not qua historical document."
Total base points: 12 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 1
QUA is one of the most playable Q words because it follows the standard Q-U pattern. Unlike QI, QAT, or QOPH, it doesn't require memorizing unusual letter combinations.
• Easy to remember: Natural Q-U combination
• Short length: Only 3 letters makes it easier to play
• Common letters: U and A are abundant in most racks
• Hook potential: Can add S for QUAS (though rare)
While qua remains largely confined to academic and legal contexts, it represents the enduring influence of Latin on English intellectual discourse. Its survival demonstrates how specialized vocabulary serves specific communicative needs.
In modern usage, qua often signals formal or scholarly register. Writers might choose it to establish academic credibility or to achieve the precise disambiguation it offers.
Interestingly, qua has found new life in word games, where its combination of a high-value Q with common letters makes it a strategic play, introducing many casual players to this formal Latin preposition.
Many English speakers are unsure how to pronounce qua. The correct pronunciations are "kwah" or "kway," not "kwuh" or "kyoo-ay."
Using qua in informal contexts can sound pretentious. Reserve it for academic or legal writing where precision is essential.
Don't confuse qua with "quay" (a wharf). They're pronounced differently
and have completely unrelated meanings.Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like QUA