Five-letter position pattern
5 Letter Words with S as 1st and A as 3rd Letter
Five letter words that begin with S and have A third turn up in puzzles more often than you might expect. S is the busiest opener of all, with blends such as ST, SH, SP and SM, as in STORY, SHORT and SPACE. A in the third box is one of the most common middle letters, often after a consonant blend.
311matching five-letter words
Five-letter words with S in the 1st and A in the 3rd position
- saags
- scabs
- scads
- scaff
- scags
- scail
- scala
- scald
- scale
- scall
- scalp
- scalt
- scalx
- scaly
- scalz
- scamp
- scams
- scand
- scans
- scant
- scapa
- scape
- scapi
- scare
- scarf
- scarn
- scarp
- scars
- scart
- scary
- scase
- scath
- scats
- scatt
- scaud
- scaul
- scaum
- scaup
- scaur
- scaut
- scawd
- scawl
- scaws
- sdayn
- seals
- seame
- seams
- seamy
- seans
- seare
- sears
- seary
- sease
- seats
- seave
- seavy
- seaze
- shack
- shade
- shado
- shads
- shady
- shaft
- shags
- shahi
- shahs
- shake
- shako
- shakt
- shaku
- shaky
- shale
- shall
- shalm
- shalt
- shaly
- shama
- shame
- shams
- shand
- shank
- shans
- shant
- shape
- shaps
- shapy
- shard
- share
- shark
- sharn
- sharp
- shart
- shash
- shaul
- shaup
- shave
- shawl
- shawm
- shawn
- shaws
- shawy
- shaya
- shays
- siafu
- sials
- skaff
- skags
- skail
- skair
- skald
- skank
- skart
- skate
- skats
- skatt
- skaws
- slabs
- slack
- slade
- slaes
- slags
- slaid
- slain
- slait
- slake
- slaky
- slamp
- slams
- slane
- slang
- slank
- slant
- slape
- slaps
- slare
- slart
- slash
- slask
- slate
- slath
- slats
- slaty
- slaum
- slave
- slavs
- slaws
- slays
- smaak
- smack
- smaik
- small
- smalm
- smalt
- smarm
- smart
- smash
- smaze
- snabs
- snack
- snaff
- snafu
- snags
- snail
- snake
- snaky
- snape
- snaps
- snapy
- snare
- snarf
- snark
- snarl
- snars
- snary
- snash
- snast
- snath
- snaws
- soaks
- soaky
- soapi
- soaps
- soapy
- soare
- soars
- soary
- soave
- spaad
- space
- spack
- spacy
- spade
- spado
- spaed
- spaer
- spaes
- spags
- spahi
- spaid
- spaik
- spail
- spain
- spair
- spait
- spake
- spald
- spale
- spall
- spalt
- spams
- spane
- spang
- spank
- spann
- spans
- spard
- spare
- spark
- sparm
- spars
- spart
- spary
- spasm
- spate
- spath
- spats
- spaul
- spave
- spawl
- spawn
- spaws
- spayd
- spays
- spaza
- spazz
- staab
- stabs
- stack
- stade
- staff
- stage
- stags
- stagy
- staia
- staid
- staig
- stail
- stain
- staio
- stair
- stake
- stale
- stalk
- stall
- stamp
- stand
- stane
- stang
- stank
- staph
- staps
- stare
- stark
- starn
- starr
- stars
- start
- starw
- stary
- stash
- state
- stats
- stauk
- staun
- staup
- stave
- stawn
- staws
- stays
- suade
- suant
- suave
- swabs
- swack
- swads
- swage
- swags
- swail
- swain
- swale
- swaly
- swami
- swamp
- swamy
- swang
- swank
- swans
- swape
- swaps
- swapt
- sward
- sware
- swarf
- swarm
- swart
- swash
- swath
- swats
- swayl
- sways
- swazi
What the Words Have in Common
After the opening S, look for T as in STATE, H as in SHARE and L as in SLAVE. For endings, look for RE as in SHARE and CK as in STACK.
The Most Familiar Words on This Page
STATE, START, SMALL, SPACE and SHARE are the best known words that fit, so they make sensible first guesses. STAND, STAGE and STAFF are worth keeping in reserve.
Useful five-letter words
- STATE
- START
- SMALL
- SPACE
- SHARE
Pattern Notes
The pair mixes a consonant with a vowel, which gives the words a natural, easy to pronounce rhythm, as in STATE, START and SMALL. Most of the familiar words have a consonant in the second box. The fifth box is most often E, S and K, which makes it the quickest place to settle the ending.
How to Narrow It Down
The second box is the biggest unknown, and T, H and L are the strongest letters to test. If the second letter comes back grey, move to the ending and try E in the fifth box. The fixed S 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 starting with S and 5 letter words with A as the 3rd letter.
Playing This Pattern in Word Games
In Scrabble, S is worth one point and A is worth one point. Knowing words such as STATE, START and SMALL helps you use both tiles quickly when they land on your rack.
Frequently asked questions
What are some common 5 letter words with S as 1st and A as 3rd letter
STATE, START, SMALL, SPACE and SHARE are among the best known. STAND, STAGE and STAFF are good follow ups.
What does S as the first letter tell me
S is the busiest opener of all, with blends such as ST, SH, SP and SM, as in STORY, SHORT and SPACE.
Which letters usually come second in words with S first and A third
T, H and L are the usual choices, as in STATE, SHARE and SLAVE. Testing one of them in the second box is the quickest way to narrow the list.