How to use this list of 4-letter words
The 2,291 most common 4-letter words come first, each marked with a small dot. Rarer words join them when you switch Common words only off. Long lists are split into pages of 300 words, with page links at the bottom.
Use the filter bar to cut the list down: add a first letter, a last letter or letters the word must contain, and the results change straight away. You can sort A to Z or Z to A, copy a single word with one tap, or use Copy all and Download to save the whole list for later.
4-letter words by the numbers
Our dictionary has 3,976 words with exactly 4 letters, and 2,291 of them are common words you'd meet in everyday reading. The rest are rarer: plural and past-tense forms of unusual words, scientific terms, and words borrowed from other languages.
In A-to-Z order the list runs from aahs to zyme. More 4-letter words start with S than with any other letter – 223 of them.
More ways to find the right word
- Have letters to use? The word unscrambler shows every word you can make from them, grouped by length.
- Know some letters and where they go? The crossword helper fills in patterns such as c?t or ??ar.
- Playing a five-letter guessing puzzle? The 5-letter word finder works with green, yellow and gray letters.
- Need a certain start or end? Browse words that start with or words that end in any letters.
- Want a surprise? The random word generator picks words of any length for you.
Questions
How many 4-letter words are there?
Our dictionary lists 3,976 4-letter words. Of those, 2,291 are common everyday words; the rest are rare, technical or old-fashioned. Other dictionaries may count a few more or a few fewer.
What are some common 4-letter words?
A few everyday examples are have, face, make, head, back. The list above shows the common 4-letter words first, each marked with a small dot.
Which letter do most 4-letter words start with?
More 4-letter words start with S than with any other letter – 223 of them in our list.
How do I find 4-letter words with certain letters?
Type the letters into the filter bar above the list: starts with, ends with or contains. To use your letters in any order, try words with letters or the word unscrambler.
Can I use these words in word games?
Most of them, yes. The list is built from a large public-domain word list made for word games, but every game and every group has its own rules, so check yours before playing an unusual word.
Can I download the list?
Yes. Use Copy all to copy the words, or download them as a plain text file. It's free and needs no sign-up.
Last updated October 2, 2026