Words With AK in the Middle
100 wordsThe AK cluster cuts through English with a sharp, percussive quality that mirrors its meaning in many words—BREAK, SHAKE, QUAKE. This pattern appears in words spanning everyday vocabulary to specialized scientific terms, giving you options whether you're writing an essay or clearing a triple word score.
4-letter words
145-letter words
176-letter words
197-letter words
128-letter words
169-letter words
1010-letter words
411-letter words
412-letter words
313-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The AK combination punches above its weight in word games, especially when you can pair it with high-value consonants.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
AK frequently appears in words describing sudden, forceful action—BREAK, SHAKE, WAKE, QUAKE all share this kinetic energy. The pattern often emerges from Germanic roots, where the hard K sound emphasized physical impact or disruption. You'll also find AK in compound words built on these action roots: HEARTBREAKING, BACKBREAKING, GROUNDBREAKING.
Total Words
790
0.3% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.0 letters
2.5 syllables
Top Scrabble
JAWBREAKINGLY
33 points
Longest Word
HEARTBREAKINGLY
15 letters
Parts of Speech
With 75% nouns and only 8% verbs, AK words tend to name things rather than describe actions—despite the pattern's presence in dramatic verbs like BREAK and SHAKE. The average length of 8 letters reflects how often AK appears in compound words and technical terms.
Middle English dominates this pattern, with many AK words tracing through Old English to Proto-Germanic origins. STAKE traveled from Old English 'staca' through Proto-Germanic, while QUAKE followed a parallel path from 'cwacian.' Japanese contributes a notable cluster, likely through words like SAKE and terms that entered English through trade and cultural exchange.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
immense East Indian fruit resembling breadfruit; it contains an edible pulp and nutritious seeds that are commonly roasted
Medium (5-7)
Long (8+)
of or pertaining to large bone marrow cells
cornbread usually cooked pancake-style on a griddle (chiefly New England)
Short (2-4)
immense East Indian fruit resembling breadfruit; it contains an edible pulp and nutritious seeds that are commonly roasted
Medium (5-7)
Long (8+)
of or pertaining to large bone marrow cells
characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
JAK and JAKE offer quick scoring options in tight board positions, with JAK jumping from 14 to 16 points between Scrabble and WWF. The real separation comes in longer plays: JAWBREAKINGLY hits 33 points in Scrabble but climbs to 38 in WWF thanks to the boosted J value. MUNTJAK only works in WWF, where it scores 25 points—a useful exclusive to remember when you're stuck with that awkward J-U combination.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
BREAK and SHAKE make excellent Wordle openers, each testing common consonants alongside two vowels. TAKEN offers a different vowel spread while checking the frequently-used T and N.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
Short AK words like JAK exist as borrowed terms or truncated forms, while the longest entries tend to be compounds stacking familiar roots—HEARTBREAKINGLY simply extends BREAK with common affixes.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
a workplace where baked goods (breads and cakes and pastries) are produced or sold
any wheeled vehicle that is dilapidated and uncomfortable
"that old bike without rubber tires was a real boneshaker"
informal terms for the mouth
a business engaged in the manufacture of automobiles
BONESHAKER describes any dilapidated, uncomfortable wheeled vehicle—originally referring to early bicycles with no suspension. It's valid in both Scrabble and WWF, and beyond its game utility, it's simply a more vivid way to describe that rattling car you've been meaning to replace.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.