Five-letter position pattern
5 Letter Words with N as 2nd and V as 3rd Letter
Start with ENVOY or ANVIL, two of the best known words that put N second and V third. N in the second box follows a vowel, K or S, as in UN, EN, AN, IN, KN and SN openings. V in the third box almost always follows a vowel and is followed by E.
5matching five-letter words
Five-letter words with N in the 2nd and V in the 3rd position
- anvil
- envoi
- envoy
- invar
- invoy
Starts and Endings
Most of these words begin with E as in ENVOY, I as in INVER and A as in ANVIL. The last box is most often R, Y and L. 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
ENVOY, ANVIL, INVER, ENVOI and INVAR are the best known words that fit, so they make sensible first guesses.
- ENVOY
- ANVIL
- INVER
- ENVOI
- INVAR
What the Letter Pair Tells You
N and V are both consonants, so the open boxes usually carry the vowels, as in ENVOY, ANVIL and INVER. Most of the familiar words open with a vowel. The fifth box is most often R, Y and L, which makes it the quickest place to settle the ending.
A Smart Way to Use Both Letters
Begin with E, I and A in the first box, because they open the largest groups. If the opener comes back grey, move to the ending and try R in the fifth box. The fixed N and V do a lot of the work, so spend your guesses on the three open boxes. For a wider view, see 5 letter words with N as the 2nd letter and 5 letter words with V as the 3rd letter.
Playing This Pattern in Word Games
In Scrabble, N is worth one point and V is worth four points. Words like ENVOY, ANVIL and INVER are handy to remember when you hold both of these letters.
Frequently asked questions
Which letters usually start words with N second and V third
E, I and A are the usual openers, as in ENVOY, INVER and ANVIL. Testing one of them in the first box is the quickest way to narrow the list.
What are some common 5 letter words with N as 2nd and V as 3rd letter
ENVOY, ANVIL, INVER, ENVOI and INVAR are among the best known.
What should I guess first for this pattern
ENVOY is a strong first choice, because it is a familiar word that also tests E, O and Y in the three open boxes.