def count_letters(words: list) -> dict:
    """Counts the letters in a word list

    Args:
        words (list): the list of words

    Returns:
        dict: the letter count
    """
    letters = {}

    # iterate through all words
    for word in words:

        # iterate through all letters of the word
        for letter in word:

            # add the letter to the dictionary
            if letter not in letters:
                letters[letter] = 1
                continue

            letters[letter] += 1

    return letters