A hookable word is a multiplier. Every suffix you can add creates a new scoring opportunity on a future turn — either for you or your opponent. Knowing which words accept multiple suffixes helps you build plays that generate options rather than dead ends.
Words that accept the most suffixes
The big five suffixes
- -S / -ES — plurals and third-person singular verbs. Works on almost any noun or verb.
- -ED — past tense. Works on regular verbs; adds D or ED depending on the stem.
- -ING — present participle. Works on most verbs; often drops a trailing E first.
- -ER — agent noun or comparative. Creates a new word (PLAYER, TRAINER) or compares (STRONGER).
- -EST — superlative. Works on adjectives; creates a bingo-length word from most 4-letter adjectives.
Leave strategy: When you play a word, consider whether your opponent can profitably add -S or -ED to it on the next turn. If that suffix play would score more for them than it costs you to deny it, consider a different word choice.
Prefixes that compound with suffixes
RE- combined with a 4-letter verb stem produces a 6-letter word that then accepts -ING, -ED, and -ER — giving you three potential bingo plays from a single word. REFORM → REFORMED, REFORMING, REFORMER. This prefix-plus-suffix compounding is why RE- words are so prized in bingo study.