Words Starting With L
100 wordsWords beginning with L form one of the most versatile collections in English. From the two-letter LA to medical monstrosities like LYMPHOGRANULOMATOSIS, this letter spans everyday vocabulary and specialized terminology alike.
2-letter words
23-letter words
104-letter words
335-letter words
246-letter words
177-letter words
78-letter words
59-letter words
110-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
L words reward players who understand their unusual scoring dynamics and strategic flexibility across different word games.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
The L prefix carries surprising weight in English. Latin prefixes like LOCO- (place), LITHO- (stone), and LINGU- (tongue) generate countless technical terms. The liquid consonant L also appears frequently in words describing flow, light, and gentleness—a pattern linguists call sound symbolism.
Total Words
3,509
2.8% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.1 letters
2.8 syllables
Top Scrabble
LEXICOGRAPHICALLY
37 points
Longest Word
LYMPHOGRANULOMATOSIS
20 letters
Parts of Speech
L words average 8.1 letters, running slightly longer than typical dictionary entries. The 71% noun dominance reflects English's tendency to absorb Latin and Greek technical vocabulary wholesale, particularly in medicine and science.
Middle English and Latin dominate L-word origins, often creating parallel paths into modern English. LANTERN traces a remarkable journey from Ancient Greek λαμπτήρ through Latin and Old French before reaching English. Many L words preserve their Latin roots nearly intact—LENTO arrived from Italian but ultimately descends from Latin lentus, meaning slow.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
Medium (5-7)
an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages
Long (8+)
roentgenographic examination of lymph nodes and lymph vessels after injection of a radiopaque contrast medium; produces a lymphangiogram
chronic abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes (usually associated with disease)
Short (2-4)
Medium (5-7)
an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages
a fireproof metal strongbox (usually in a bank) for storing valuables
Long (8+)
roentgenographic examination of lymph nodes and lymph vessels after injection of a radiopaque contrast medium; produces a lymphangiogram
LOCKJAW demonstrates the scoring gap between games—27 points in Words With Friends versus 23 in Scrabble, thanks to WWF's boosted J value (10 vs 8). LYNX scores nearly identically in both (15 WWF, 14 Scrabble), making it reliable regardless of platform. For maximum WWF advantage, prioritize J-heavy L words where the scoring difference compounds.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
LATER and LEAST make excellent openers, each testing three vowels alongside common consonants T and R or S. LEARN offers similar vowel coverage with the useful N, while LARGE trades some consonant frequency for the valuable G.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
Medical terminology explains the extreme lengths here. LYMPHANGIOGRAPHY and LYMPHADENOPATHY stack Greek roots (lymph + vessel/node + writing/disease), a pattern that produces English's longest words through clinical precision rather than linguistic accident.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
any of a group of enzymes (trade name Lactaid) that hydrolyze lactose to glucose and galactose
a thin plate or layer (especially of bone or mineral)
in a languid and lethargic manner
"the men languidly put on their jackets"
slender long-tailed monkey of Asia
LANGUR names the slender, long-tailed monkeys of Asia—a word most players have never encountered. Beyond its zoological interest, it's a compact six-letter play that uses common tiles effectively. Worth remembering when you're stuck with that awkward U.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.