Five-letter position pattern
5 Letter Words with B as 2nd and A as 3rd Letter
Few patterns are as handy as B in the second box and A in the third, and these words show why. B in the second box is rare and almost always follows a vowel, as in AB, EB and OB openings. A in the third box is one of the most common middle letters, often after a consonant blend.
20matching five-letter words
Five-letter words with B in the 2nd and A in the 3rd position
- abaca
- abaci
- aback
- abacs
- abada
- abaff
- abaft
- abaka
- abamp
- aband
- abase
- abash
- abask
- abate
- abaue
- abave
- abaya
- abaze
- kbars
- obang
Starts and Endings
Most of these words begin with A as in ABACK and B as in BBALL. The last box is most often K, E and A. A few of these entries are rarer words that mostly appear in Scrabble and other word games, so check them against your word list.
Useful five-letter words
ABACK, ABATE, ABAYA, BBALL and ABAFT are the entries you are most likely to meet.
- ABACK
- ABATE
- ABAYA
- BBALL
- ABAFT
What the Letter Pair Tells You
The pair mixes a consonant with a vowel, which gives the words a natural, easy to pronounce rhythm, as in ABACK, ABATE and ABAYA. Most of the familiar words open with a vowel. The fifth box is most often K, E and A, which makes it the quickest place to settle the ending.
How to Narrow It Down
Begin with A and B in the first box, because they open the largest groups. If the opener comes back grey, move to the ending and try K in the fifth box. The fixed B and A do a lot of the work, so spend your guesses on the three open boxes. For a wider view, see 5 letter words with B as the 2nd letter and 5 letter words with A as the 3rd letter.
Playing This Pattern in Word Games
In Scrabble, B is worth three points and A is worth one point. Words like ABACK, ABATE and ABAYA are handy to remember when you hold both of these letters.
Frequently asked questions
What does A as the third letter tell me
A in the third box is one of the most common middle letters, often after a consonant blend. ABACK is a good example.
Which letters usually start words with B second and A third
A and B are the usual openers, as in ABACK and BBALL. Testing one of them in the first box is the quickest way to narrow the list.
Is B second and A third a common pattern in Wordle
It is a fair sized group, so it gives you plenty of choices. Knowing the usual openers and endings helps more than guessing blindly.