Five-letter position pattern
5 Letter Words with E as 2nd and S as 3rd Letter
Two neighbouring letters fix the middle of this pattern: E in the second box and S in the third. E in the second box is one of the most common vowel placements and follows almost any consonant. S in the third box often sits between a vowel and T, or doubles in words like ISSUE.
114matching five-letter words
Five-letter words with E in the 2nd and S in the 3rd position
- aesir
- aesop
- besan
- besat
- besaw
- besee
- beses
- beset
- besew
- besin
- besit
- besom
- besot
- bespy
- besra
- besti
- bests
- cesse
- cesta
- ceste
- cesti
- desex
- deshi
- desks
- dessa
- desse
- desto
- desyl
- fesse
- festa
- fests
- festy
- gesse
- gesso
- geste
- gests
- hesps
- hests
- jesse
- jests
- jesus
- kesar
- kesse
- kests
- lesbo
- lesed
- leses
- lesiy
- lessn
- leste
- lests
- mesad
- mesal
- mesas
- mesel
- mesem
- meses
- meshy
- mesic
- mesne
- meson
- messe
- messy
- mesto
- nests
- nesty
- pesky
- pesos
- peste
- pesto
- pests
- pesty
- resat
- resaw
- resay
- resee
- reses
- reset
- resew
- resex
- resid
- resin
- resit
- resod
- resow
- resto
- restr
- rests
- resty
- resue
- resun
- resup
- sesey
- sesma
- sessa
- sesti
- tesla
- testa
- teste
- tests
- testy
- vespa
- vesta
- vests
- weste
- wests
- westy
- yeses
- yesks
- yesso
- yests
- yesty
- zests
- zesty
Starts and Endings
The first box is most often R as in RESET, P as in PESTS and T as in TESTS. The last two letters are often TS as in TESTS and ET as in RESET.
Useful five-letter words
TESTS, MESSY, RESET, RESTS and RESIN are the best known words that fit, so they make sensible first guesses. NESTS, PESTS and DESKS are worth keeping in reserve.
- TESTS
- MESSY
- RESET
- RESTS
- RESIN
What the Letter Pair Tells You
The pair mixes a vowel with a consonant, which gives the words a natural, easy to pronounce rhythm, as in TESTS, MESSY and RESET. Most of the familiar words open with a consonant. The fifth box is most often S, Y and T, which makes it the quickest place to settle the ending.
How to Narrow It Down
Begin with R, P and T 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 E and S do a lot of the work, so spend your guesses on the three open boxes. For a wider view, see 5 letter words with E as the 2nd letter and 5 letter words with S as the 3rd letter.
Playing This Pattern in Word Games
In Scrabble, E is worth one point and S is worth one point. Words like TESTS, MESSY and RESET are handy to remember when you hold both of these letters.
Frequently asked questions
Is E second and S third a common pattern in Wordle
It is a large group, so it gives you plenty of choices. Knowing the usual openers and endings helps more than guessing blindly.
Which letters usually start words with E second and S third
R, P and T are the usual openers, as in RESET, PESTS and TESTS. Testing one of them in the first box is the quickest way to narrow the list.
What should I guess first for this pattern
TESTS is a strong first choice, because it is a familiar word that also tests S and T in the three open boxes.