Words Containing J
100 wordsJ is one of English's rarest letters, appearing in barely half a percent of dictionary words. Yet it punches above its weight in word games, where its 8-10 point value transforms even simple words into scoring opportunities. Here you'll find everything from the two-letter JO to medical monstrosities like KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS.
2-letter words
23-letter words
134-letter words
255-letter words
176-letter words
167-letter words
168-letter words
69-letter words
310-letter words
2Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
J words reward memorization over intuition—the letter's scarcity means knowing the playable options gives you a real edge.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
English J words cluster around a few reliable patterns. Many come from music and culture (JAZZ, JIVE, JAM), while others preserve older spellings from languages like Hebrew (HALLELUJAH) and Arabic (HAJJ). The prefix ADJ- creates useful verbs like ADJURE and ADJUST, while -JECT words (PROJECT, INJECT, REJECT) trace back to Latin's jacere, meaning 'to throw.'
Total Words
1,580
0.5% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.1 letters
2.9 syllables
Top Scrabble
KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS
38 points
Longest Word
KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS
20 letters
Parts of Speech
J words average 8.1 letters—longer than typical English words. The 70% noun dominance reflects how many J words entered English as borrowed cultural terms rather than evolving naturally within the language.
Middle English contributes the largest share of J words, though many passed through from other languages. Arabic gave English HAJJ and several other religious terms, while Latin's influence shows in scholarly vocabulary. The chain from JOVIALLY back through Italian gioviale to Latin ioviālis (meaning 'of Jupiter') reveals how personality words often trace to mythology.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk
the fifth pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Dhu al-Hijja; at least once in a lifetime a Muslim is expected to make a religious journey to Mecca and the Kaaba
Medium (5-7)
a musician who plays or composes jazz music
(used especially of clothes) marked by conspicuous display
Long (8+)
inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva
disagreeable aftereffects from the use of drugs (especially alcohol)
Short (2-4)
empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk
the fifth pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Dhu al-Hijja; at least once in a lifetime a Muslim is expected to make a religious journey to Mecca and the Kaaba
Medium (5-7)
a musician who plays or composes jazz music
Long (8+)
inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva
disagreeable aftereffects from the use of drugs (especially alcohol)
J scores 8 points in Scrabble but jumps to 10 in Words With Friends—a significant boost that changes priorities. JAZZ nets 29 points in Scrabble but 31 in WWF, while HAJJ climbs from 21 to 24 points. Longer words like KATZENJAMMER (36 Scrabble, 41 WWF) show even bigger swings. In WWF, holding your J for premium squares pays off more substantially than in Scrabble.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of John; author of the Epistle of James in the New Testament
(used in the plural) close-fitting trousers of heavy denim for manual work or casual wear
a small outbuilding with a bench having holes through which a user can defecate
Common Words (likely answers)
a teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (circa 4 BC - AD 29)
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
a short crowbar
judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
JEANS makes an excellent starting guess when you suspect a J, covering two common vowels plus high-frequency consonants. JAMES offers similar vowel coverage with a different consonant spread if you want alternatives.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
Short J words are scarce because J arrived late to English and rarely appears in native Anglo-Saxon vocabulary. The longest J words tend to be scientific compounds, where Latin and Greek roots combine freely.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
ABJURE means to formally reject or disavow a belief, typically under pressure. It's worth knowing for its unusual letter combination and its slightly higher point value than common J words. Pair it with ADJURE (to earnestly request)—the two sound alike but mean opposite things.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.