Words Starting With MEN
100 wordsWords beginning with MEN span from the everyday to the highly specialized. This collection includes simple terms like MEND and MENU alongside complex medical vocabulary that can dominate word game boards.
3-letter words
14-letter words
45-letter words
76-letter words
157-letter words
178-letter words
169-letter words
1310-letter words
1211-letter words
612-letter words
714-letter words
116-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The MEN- prefix opens doors to both common vocabulary and surprisingly high-scoring medical terminology.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
The MEN- pattern draws heavily from Latin 'mens' (mind) and Greek 'meninx' (membrane), giving us many psychological and anatomical terms. This explains why the pattern is dense with medical vocabulary—MENINGES, MENISCUS, MENINGITIS all trace back to these classical roots. The pattern also includes Germanic contributions through words like MEND, showing English's characteristic blend of sources.
Total Words
109
0.0% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.8 letters
3.3 syllables
Top Scrabble
MENINGOENCEPHALITIS
29 points
Longest Word
MENINGOENCEPHALITIS
19 letters
Parts of Speech
With 79% nouns dominating this pattern, MEN- words lean heavily toward naming things rather than describing actions or qualities. The average length of 8.8 letters reflects the abundance of medical compound words, well above typical dictionary averages.
Latin and Middle English share equal influence over MEN- words, with French serving as a frequent bridge. The word MENU traces a fascinating path: Latin 'minūtus' (small) became French 'menu' (detailed list), reflecting how restaurant terminology arrived through French cuisine culture. MENTOR's journey from Ancient Greek Μέντωρ—the wise advisor in Homer's Odyssey—shows how classical names become common words.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
Medium (5-7)
a membrane (one of 3) that envelops the brain and spinal cord
a decent responsible person with admirable characteristics
Long (8+)
inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and their meninges
surgical removal of the meniscus of the knee
Short (2-4)
Medium (5-7)
a membrane (one of 3) that envelops the brain and spinal cord
Long (8+)
inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and their meninges
Medical terminology dominates the high-scoring opportunities here. MENINGOENCEPHALITIS scores 29 points in Scrabble but jumps to 36 in Words With Friends. The shorter MENFOLK offers reliable mid-game value at 16 points (Scrabble) or 19 points (WWF). For accessible plays, MENSCH at 13 points provides solid returns without requiring a medical dictionary's worth of knowledge.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
a faint constellation in the polar region of the southern hemisphere and containing part of the Large Magellanic Cloud
Common Words (likely answers)
a faint constellation in the polar region of the southern hemisphere and containing part of the Large Magellanic Cloud
a decent responsible person with admirable characteristics
MENSA makes a strong Wordle starter with two vowels and the common consonants S and N. The A placement in position five tests a frequent ending pattern.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
The abundance of lengthy MEN- words stems from Greek medical terminology, where compound construction was standard. Terms like MENINGOENCEPHALITIS stack multiple Greek roots—meninx (membrane), enkephalos (brain), and -itis (inflammation)—creating technical precision at the cost of brevity.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
a membrane (one of 3) that envelops the brain and spinal cord
(anatomy) a disk of cartilage that serves as a cushion between the ends of bones that meet at a joint
MENDACIOUS means given to lying or habitually dishonest. Beyond its elegant sound, it's a legitimate Scrabble play that most opponents won't challenge. The word derives from Latin 'mendax' and offers a sophisticated alternative to simply calling someone a liar.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.