Five-letter position pattern
5 Letter Words with A as 2nd and N as 3rd Letter
Five letter words with A second and N third turn up in puzzles more often than you might expect. A in the second box is very common, usually after a consonant such as B, C, H, M, P or T. N in the third box is very common, usually after a vowel and before D, S, T, K or C.
316matching five-letter words
Five-letter words with A in the 2nd and N in the 3rd position
- banak
- banal
- banat
- banca
- banco
- bancs
- banda
- bande
- bandh
- bandi
- bando
- bands
- bandy
- baned
- banes
- banga
- bange
- bangs
- bangy
- bania
- banig
- banjo
- banks
- banns
- bants
- bantu
- banty
- banus
- banya
- canal
- canap
- canch
- candy
- caned
- caneh
- canel
- caner
- canes
- cangs
- cangy
- canid
- canli
- canna
- canns
- canny
- canoe
- canon
- canos
- canso
- canst
- canto
- cants
- canty
- canun
- canzo
- dance
- dancy
- danda
- dandy
- danes
- dangs
- danic
- danio
- danke
- danks
- danli
- danny
- dansk
- dansy
- danta
- dants
- eaned
- fanal
- fanam
- fancy
- fands
- fanes
- fanga
- fango
- fangs
- fangy
- fanit
- fanks
- fanny
- fanon
- fanos
- fanum
- ganam
- ganch
- ganda
- gandy
- ganef
- ganev
- ganga
- gange
- gangs
- ganja
- ganof
- gansa
- gansy
- ganta
- gants
- ganza
- hanap
- hance
- hanch
- hands
- handy
- hange
- hangi
- hangs
- hanif
- hanks
- hankt
- hanky
- hanoi
- hansa
- hanse
- hants
- janes
- janns
- janny
- jantu
- janty
- janua
- kanae
- kanap
- kanas
- kanat
- kande
- kandy
- kaneh
- kanes
- kanga
- kangs
- kanji
- kannu
- kants
- kanzu
- lanai
- lanas
- lanaz
- lance
- lanch
- lande
- lands
- lanes
- langi
- lanks
- lanky
- lansa
- lants
- lanum
- manak
- manal
- manas
- manat
- manba
- mandi
- mands
- maned
- maneh
- manei
- manes
- manet
- maney
- manga
- mange
- mangi
- mango
- mangs
- mangy
- mania
- manic
- manid
- manie
- manis
- manit
- maniu
- manks
- manky
- manly
- manna
- manoc
- manor
- manos
- manqu
- manse
- manso
- manta
- manto
- manty
- manul
- manus
- nanas
- nance
- nancy
- nandi
- nandu
- nanes
- nanga
- nanmu
- nanna
- nanny
- nants
- nantz
- nanua
- panax
- pance
- panda
- pands
- pandy
- paned
- panel
- panes
- panga
- pangi
- pangs
- panic
- panim
- panko
- panne
- panse
- pansy
- panto
- pants
- panty
- panus
- qanat
- ranal
- ranas
- rance
- ranch
- randn
- rands
- randy
- ranee
- ranga
- range
- rangi
- rangy
- ranid
- ranis
- ranke
- ranks
- ranli
- ranny
- rants
- ranty
- sanai
- sanct
- sands
- sandy
- saned
- saner
- sanes
- sanga
- sangh
- sango
- sangs
- sangu
- sanit
- sanka
- sanko
- sansa
- sansi
- santo
- sants
- santy
- tanak
- tanan
- tanas
- tanga
- tangi
- tango
- tangs
- tangy
- tanha
- tanhs
- tanka
- tanks
- tanky
- tanna
- tanoa
- tansy
- tanti
- tanto
- tanzy
- vanda
- vaned
- vanes
- vangs
- vanir
- vants
- wands
- waned
- wanes
- waney
- wanga
- wangs
- wanks
- wanky
- wanle
- wanly
- wanna
- wanny
- wants
- wanty
- wanze
- yangs
- yanks
- yanky
- zanja
- zante
- zanza
- zanze
What the Words Have in Common
Most of these words begin with M as in MANGA, B as in BANKS and R as in RANGE. Many of them close with KS as in BANKS and DY as in CANDY.
Useful five-letter words
WANTS, HANDS, RANGE, DANCE and BANKS are the best known words that fit, so they make sensible first guesses. PANEL, PANTS and BANDS are worth keeping in reserve.
- WANTS
- HANDS
- RANGE
- DANCE
- BANKS
Pattern Notes
The pair mixes a vowel with a consonant, which gives the words a natural, easy to pronounce rhythm, as in WANTS, HANDS and RANGE. Most of the familiar words open with a consonant. The fifth box is most often S, Y and A, which makes it the quickest place to settle the ending.
Quick Strategy for This Pattern
Begin with M, B and R in the first box, because they open the largest groups. After that, test S in the fifth box, since it is the single most common final letter here. The fixed A and N do a lot of the work, so spend your guesses on the three open boxes. For a wider view, see 5 letter words with A as the 2nd letter and 5 letter words with N as the 3rd letter.
Using These Words in Scrabble
In Scrabble, A is worth one point and N is worth one point. Knowing words such as WANTS, HANDS and RANGE helps you use both tiles quickly when they land on your rack.
Frequently asked questions
Which letters usually start words with A second and N third
M, B and R are the usual openers, as in MANGA, BANKS and RANGE. Testing one of them in the first box is the quickest way to narrow the list.
What does N as the third letter tell me
N in the third box is very common, usually after a vowel and before D, S, T, K or C. WANTS is a good example.
What are some common 5 letter words with A as 2nd and N as 3rd letter
WANTS, HANDS, RANGE, DANCE and BANKS are among the best known. PANEL, PANTS and BANDS are good follow ups.