Five-letter position pattern
5 Letter Words with B as 2nd and O as 3rd Letter
Start with ABOUT or ABOVE, two of the best known words that put B second and O third. B in the second box is rare and almost always follows a vowel, as in AB, EB and OB openings. O in the third box is very common and sits in the middle of everyday words.
22matching five-letter words
Five-letter words with B in the 2nd and O in the 3rd position
- abode
- abody
- abohm
- aboil
- aboma
- aboon
- abord
- abore
- abort
- abote
- about
- above
- ebons
- ebony
- ebook
- ibota
- mbori
- oboes
- obole
- oboli
- obols
- ybore
What the Words Have in Common
Most of these words begin with A as in ABOUT and E as in EBONY. The last box is most often T, E and Y.
Useful five-letter words
ABOUT, ABOVE, EBONY, ABORT and ABODE are the best known words that fit, so they make sensible first guesses.
- ABOUT
- ABOVE
- EBONY
- ABORT
- ABODE
Reading the Letter Pair
The pair mixes a consonant with a vowel, which gives the words a natural, easy to pronounce rhythm, as in ABOUT, ABOVE and EBONY. Most of the familiar words open with a vowel. The fifth box is most often T, E and Y, which makes it the quickest place to settle the ending.
How to Narrow It Down
Begin with A and E in the first box, because they open the largest groups. If the opener comes back grey, move to the ending and try T in the fifth box. The fixed B and O 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 O as the 3rd letter.
Playing This Pattern in Word Games
In Scrabble, B is worth three points and O is worth one point. Knowing words such as ABOUT, ABOVE and EBONY helps you use both tiles quickly when they land on your rack.
Frequently asked questions
What does O as the third letter tell me
O in the third box is very common and sits in the middle of everyday words. ABOUT is a good example.
What does B as the second letter tell me
B in the second box is rare and almost always follows a vowel, as in AB, EB and OB openings. ABOUT is a good example.
Which letters usually start words with B second and O third
A and E are the usual openers, as in ABOUT and EBONY. Testing one of them in the first box is the quickest way to narrow the list.