diff --git a/cool_domain/word_list.py b/cool_domain/word_list.py
index 39702b3..9194748 100644
--- a/cool_domain/word_list.py
+++ b/cool_domain/word_list.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import pathlib
+import re
 import typing
 
 import unidecode
@@ -22,10 +23,7 @@ class WordList:
         self.logger.info("[%s] Loaded %d words", self.__name, len(self.words))
 
     def __escape_word(self, word: str) -> str:
-        word = unidecode.unidecode(word.strip()).lower()
-        if " " in word:
-            return ""
-        return word
+        return re.sub(r"[^a-z0-9-]", "", unidecode.unidecode(word.strip()).lower())
 
     def close(self) -> None:
         pass