5-Letter Words With EI in the Middle

100 words

The EI combination sits at the heart of words that feel distinctly Germanic and Old English in character. From everyday terms like THEIR and BEING to specialized vocabulary like SHEIK and SKEIN, these five-letter words showcase a vowel pairing that breaks the familiar 'i before e' rule more often than it follows it.

Pattern Guide

Word recommendations for board games.

Word Games

High-value words for board games

Top 5-Letter Words

SEIZE

take possession of by force, as after an invasion

14 pts
DEIFY

consider as a god or godlike

12 pts
HEIGH
12 pts
SHEIK

a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance

12 pts
WEIGH

show consideration for; take into account

12 pts
KIBEI
11 pts
REIFY

consider an abstract concept to be real

11 pts
11 pts

SEIZE dominates both Scrabble and WWF at 14 points, making that Z work hard in any game. The strategic split comes with words like HEIGH and SHEIK—both score 12 in Scrabble thanks to the H being worth 4, but drop in WWF where H only counts for 3. KIBEI offers an interesting reversal, scoring 11 in Scrabble but climbing to 12 in WWF. Keep VEINY and WEIGH in your arsenal for their consistent double-digit performance across both platforms.

Wordle

5-letter words for daily puzzles

Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)

THEIRStarter
HEISTStarter

commit a burglary; enter and rob a dwelling

STEINStarter

a mug intended for serving beer

REINSStarter

Common Words (likely answers)

THEIRCommon
BEINGCommon

the state or fact of existing

WEIRDCommon

suggesting the operation of supernatural influences

EIGHTCommon

one of four playing cards in a deck with eight pips on the face

THEIR makes an excellent opening move, testing the common TH combination while placing E and I in frequently occurring positions. HEIST and STEIN offer strong follow-ups, each checking different consonant clusters while confirming vowel placement.

Hidden Gems

Rare but valid words to surprise opponents

DEIFY

consider as a god or godlike

"These young men deify financial success"

SKEIN

coils of worsted yarn

EIDER

duck of the northern hemisphere much valued for the fine soft down of the females

FEINT

any distracting or deceptive maneuver (as a mock attack)

"The midfielder feinted to shoot"

SKEIN refers to coils of worsted yarn, wound in a loose twist for easy unwinding. Beyond the craft room, it appears in phrases like 'a skein of geese' for birds flying in formation. The unusual SK opening and the valid Scrabble status make it a surprise play that can catch opponents off guard.

Popular crossword answers

Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.