Bananagrams Word Checker
Bananagrams doesn't have its own official word list — here's what to use instead, and a free tool that already does the job.
Bananagrams' own rules don't define a fixed dictionary the way Scrabble does. Instead, the official rules simply say any word found in a standard dictionary is playable, as long as it isn't a proper noun, an abbreviation, or a word that needs a hyphen or apostrophe to write. That's close enough to how Scrabble's own word lists are built — they already exclude proper nouns and hyphenated words for the same reason — that checking a word against our Word Validator (choose UK or US) is a genuinely reasonable stand-in for a dedicated Bananagrams checker, even though it isn't a Bananagrams-branded tool.
Why there's no single "Bananagrams dictionary"
Bananagrams is designed to be played with whatever dictionary the players already agree on — the box itself doesn't ship one. That's a deliberate difference from Scrabble, which has long-standing, specific published lists (Collins in the UK, TWL in the US) precisely because competitive and club play needs a single, disputable-in-advance reference. Bananagrams, built more as a casual, fast-paced game, leaves that choice open — which is convenient day-to-day, but unhelpful the moment two players actually disagree on whether a word counts.
Using a Scrabble word list as the house rule
Because most groups don't want to argue over which dictionary counts mid-game, agreeing upfront to use a standard Scrabble word list — UK or US — as the house rule for Bananagrams is a common, practical fix. Both lists already exclude exactly the categories Bananagrams' own rules rule out (proper nouns, abbreviations, hyphenated words), so a word that validates on one of these lists is very likely to satisfy Bananagrams' own "standard dictionary" test too.
Common questions
Is there an official Bananagrams word list?
No — the printed rules point to "any standard dictionary" rather than a specific published list, unlike Scrabble's Collins or TWL.
Can I use a Scrabble word checker for Bananagrams?
Yes, in practice. Since Scrabble's word lists already exclude proper nouns and hyphenated words the same way Bananagrams' rules do, checking a word here is a reasonable stand-in — just agree with whoever you're playing that this is the reference you're both using before the game starts.
What if my Bananagrams group disagrees on a word?
Pick a single reference before you start playing — this tool's UK or US list — and stick with it for the whole game. Deciding mid-dispute rarely settles anything, since whoever's about to lose the challenge has an incentive to argue for whichever list favours them.