Letters and spelling

Words with the letters qu together

In English, the letter q is almost always followed by u. This list mixes words that start with qu, like quick and question, with words where qu appears later, like liquid and frequent, for well-rounded spelling and vocabulary practice.

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
quickadjectiveMoving or happening fast, or done with little delay.She gave a quick answer before hurrying off to her next meeting.
quietadjectiveMaking little or no noise, or, of a place or situation, calm and free of disturbance or activity.The library stayed quiet all afternoon except for the occasional turning of pages.
quiltnounA bed covering made of padded fabric stitched together, often in a decorative pattern.Her grandmother sewed a colorful quilt from scraps of old family clothing.
quiznounA short, informal test of knowledge, often given in class or as a game.The teacher gave a pop quiz on the reading assigned for homework.
queennounA female monarch who rules a country in her own right, or the wife of a reigning king.The queen addressed the nation in a rare televised speech.
questnounA long, often difficult search or journey undertaken to find or achieve something important.The knight set out on a quest to recover the stolen sword.
questionnounA sentence or phrase used to ask for information, an answer, or a decision.The teacher asked a question that no student in the class could answer.
quoteverbTo repeat the exact words that another person wrote or said.The article quoted the mayor as saying the project would finish on schedule.
quartnounA unit of liquid volume equal to a quarter of a gallon, about 0.95 liters in the US system.She bought a quart of milk to make pancakes for breakfast.
quarternounOne of four equal parts into which something is divided.He cut the sandwich into four quarters so the children could share it.
qualitynounThe standard of something as measured against similar things, especially how good or excellent it is.The furniture's quality was obvious from the smooth, carefully finished joints.
quantitynounAn amount or number of something that can be measured or counted.The recipe calls for a small quantity of salt to balance the sweetness.
equaladjectiveThe same in amount, value, status, or rights as something or someone else.The two runners crossed the finish line at exactly equal times.
equatornounThe imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, equally distant from the North and South Poles.Countries near the equator generally experience hot, humid weather all year round.
requireverbTo need something as necessary, or to officially demand that something be done.This job requires a valid driver's license and at least two years of experience.
acquireverbTo gain possession of something, often gradually or through effort.She acquired fluency in Spanish after two years of daily practice.
liquidnounA substance that flows freely and takes the shape of its container, like water.She poured the liquid from the beaker carefully into a smaller flask.
uniqueadjectiveBeing the only one of its kind, or unlike anything else in an important way.Each handmade bowl has a unique pattern.
frequentadjectiveHappening often or at short intervals.Frequent showers interrupted the afternoon games.
conquerverbTo defeat and take control of a place, people, or opponent, especially by military force; or to overcome a difficulty.The empire conquered several neighboring kingdoms over the course of a century.
banquetnounA large, formal meal held to celebrate an occasion or honor someone.The company held a banquet to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary.
techniquenounA particular way of carrying out a task, especially one requiring skill or precision.The swimmer refined her breathing technique to shave seconds off her time.
sequencenounA particular order in which related events, numbers, or items follow one another.The technician followed a strict sequence of steps to restart the machine safely.
consequencenounA result of an action, choice, or event.One consequence of the road closure was heavier traffic on the side streets.
squadnounA small group of people organized to work, train, or fight together for a common purpose.The coach announced the final squad for the upcoming championship tournament.
squirrelnounA small rodent with a long bushy tail that lives in trees and eats nuts and seeds.A squirrel darted across the yard and buried an acorn near the old oak tree.
squeezeverbTo press something firmly, especially from opposite sides, in order to extract, compress, or grip it.She squeezed the orange to extract every last drop of juice.
quaintadjectiveAttractively unusual or old-fashioned, especially in a charming, picturesque way.The travelers admired the quaint cobblestone streets of the small mountain village.
quarrelnounAn angry argument or disagreement, often between people who know each other well.The brothers had a loud quarrel over who would inherit the family farm.
quiververbTo shake with a slight, rapid trembling motion, often from strong emotion or cold.Her voice quivered as she tried to hold back tears during the speech.

Words with qu in them

In standard English, the letter q is almost always followed by u, whether at the start of a word like quick and question or in the middle, as in liquid, require, and frequent. This list mixes words that start with qu with others where qu appears later, since both patterns are useful for spelling practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is q always followed by u in English?

Almost always in standard English words, as in quick, quiet, and liquid, though a few borrowed words like qi are exceptions.