It’s only a game!

Never previously blighted with an addictive personality, I’ve only recently been struck down with a certain debilitating dependency. Scrabble.

It’s an online passion too, so there is an external adjudicator determining which words are acceptable and which aren’t, instead of a tumultuous debate around a table with those you have ceased to regard (for the course of the game) and friends, loved ones and intellectual equals.

The thing is, as an ESL teacher giving English lessons in New York, I thought I was familiar with the English language. Turns out I’m not, or not according to the Scrabble dictionary.

Here is a selection of words without vowels that are accepted on the Scrabble board. A lot are common utterances and interjections, but definitely not something I would teach in my English courses New York! Who knows, for the sake of interest, I might devote a few English lessons New York solely to the trivial pursuit of Scrabble!

TSK (also TSKS, TSKTSK and TSKTSKS) – to utter a scolding expression
HM (also HMM) – intj. expressing thought
MM (also MMM) – intj. expressing satisfaction
SH (also SHH) – intj. used to urge silence
BRR (also BRRR) – used to indicate coldness
CWM (also CWMS) – circular basin with steep walls (cirque)
NTH – pert. to item number n
PHT – intj. expressing mild anger or annoyance
PFFT – intj. expressing an abrupt ending
PHPFT – intj. expressing mild anger or annoyance
CRWTH – ancient stringed musical instrument

Pfft! Can you believe this list? I certainly couldn’t! But now I can rest assured as to the reason why I’m always losing our online games! Phpft!

I think I’m going to have to enrol myself in some English courses in New York specifically catered for Scrabble if I’m ever going to have a chance with this game! Does anyone out there know of any New York English courses that are entirely devoted to Scrabble?

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