5 letter words starting with E
E is the most common letter in English and one of the least common to start a word with: only 192 five letter words begin with it. E does its heavy lifting in the middle and at the end, not at the front.
Have the letters but not the word?
Why do so few five letter words start with E?
Because E is a vowel that mostly serves other letters. It softens a C or a G before it, it marks a long vowel at the end of a word, and it carries most English suffixes. Those are all jobs done inside a word, which leaves only 192 five letter words opening with it.
The full list
Alphabetical, grouped by second letter, which is usually the fastest way to find what you want.
EA words 16
- eager
- eagle
- eagre
- eared
- earls
- early
- earns
- earth
- eased
- easel
- eases
- easts
- eaten
- eater
- eaved
- eaves
EB words 4
- ebbed
- ebbet
- ebons
- ebony
EC words 5
- eched
- eches
- echos
- eclat
- ecrus
ED words 10
- edema
- edged
- edger
- edges
- edict
- edify
- edile
- edits
- educe
- educt
EE words 1
- eerie
EG words 7
- egads
- egers
- egest
- eggar
- egged
- egger
- egret
EI words 4
- eider
- eidos
- eight
- eikon
EJ words 1
- eject
EK words 1
- eking
EL words 19
- elain
- eland
- elans
- elate
- elbow
- elder
- elect
- elegy
- elemi
- elfin
- elide
- elint
- elite
- eloin
- elope
- elude
- elute
- elver
- elves
EM words 18
- embar
- embay
- embed
- ember
- embow
- emcee
- emeer
- emend
- emery
- emeus
- emirs
- emits
- emmer
- emmet
- emote
- empty
- emyde
- emyds
EN words 24
- enact
- enate
- ended
- ender
- endow
- endue
- enema
- enemy
- enjoy
- ennui
- enoki
- enols
- enorm
- enows
- enrol
- ensky
- ensue
- enter
- entia
- entry
- enure
- envoi
- envoy
- enzym
EO words 1
- eosin
EP words 10
- epact
- epees
- ephah
- ephas
- ephod
- ephor
- epics
- epoch
- epode
- epoxy
EQ words 3
- equal
- equid
- equip
ER words 14
- erase
- erect
- ergot
- erica
- ernes
- erode
- erose
- erred
- error
- erses
- eruct
- erugo
- erupt
- ervil
ES words 8
- escar
- escot
- eskar
- esker
- essay
- esses
- ester
- estop
ET words 10
- etape
- ether
- ethic
- ethos
- ethyl
- etnas
- etude
- etuis
- etwee
- etyma
EU words 1
- euros
EV words 9
- evade
- evens
- event
- evert
- every
- evict
- evils
- evite
- evoke
EW words 1
- ewers
EX words 19
- exact
- exalt
- exams
- excel
- execs
- exert
- exile
- exine
- exist
- exits
- exons
- expat
- expel
- expos
- extol
- extra
- exude
- exult
- exurb
EY words 6
- eyers
- eying
- eyras
- eyres
- eyrie
- eyrir
85 of these are common enough to be in everyday use. Turn on the filter above to hide the rest.
The ones that do exist are worth knowing because they are unusual: ENNUI, ENVOY, EMERY, ETHER, EVITE. EAGER, EAGLE and EERIE open with two vowels in a row, which is rare enough at five letters to be a genuine clue when you are solving.
85 of these are in everyday use. The words starting with E that survive in the dictionary are largely words people actually use, because there was never a flood of obscure ones to begin with.
Other word lengths
The same complete list treatment for every length from 2 to 15 letters.
Five letter words by starting letter
Each letter has its own page with the full list and notes on how that letter behaves at five letters.