If you want to add some “kick” to your word game strategy, starting with the letter K is a brilliant move. While it’s not the most common letter, K is a high-impact consonant that can help you unlock difficult Wordle grids or land a massive score in Words With Friends. In this guide, we’ve put together a simple list of 5 letter words starting with K. To help you win your next match, we’ve included the Words With Friends point values as a small subscript next to each word.

5 Letter Words starting with K - 1

Highest Scoring 5 Letter Word Starting With K

In competitive play, K is worth 5 points, making it a great base for high-scoring turns. If you have tiles like J, Z, or X , try to memorize these three heavy-hitters:

  • KOPJE₂₁ – This is the king of ‘K’ words. It uses the J (10 points) and P (4 points) to hit a massive 21 points. It’s a great term for a small hill that can lead to a big win!
  • KUDZU₂₁ – A perfect 21-point play if you have a Z . It’s a fast-growing vine, and it will make your score grow just as quickly.
  • KLUTZ₂₀ – Everyone’s favorite word for a clumsy person is actually a very smart move in word games. It uses the Z and scores a solid 20 points.

5 Letter Words starting with K

KOPJE₂₁KUDZU₂₁KANZU₂₀KARZY₂₀KHAZI₂₀
KLUTZ₂₀KAJAL₁₉KANJI₁₉KYLIX₁₉KAREZ₁₈
KAZOO₁₈KICKY₁₈KYACK₁₈KEMPY₁₇KLICK₁₇
KNACK₁₇KNICK₁₇KNOCK₁₇KAMIK₁₆KAPOK₁₆
KECKS₁₆KEXES₁₆KHAPH₁₆KICKS₁₆KINKY₁₆
KOMBU₁₆KOPEK₁₆KABAB₁₅KABOB₁₅KAPPA₁₅
KAYAK₁₅KEBAB₁₅KEBOB₁₅KELPY₁₅KEMPS₁₅
KEMPT₁₅KENCH₁₅KHAKI₁₅KHOUM₁₅KIBBE₁₅
KIBBI₁₅KIPPA₁₅KOOKY₁₅KOPPA₁₅KUKUS₁₅
KULAK₁₅KUMYS₁₅KVELL₁₅KYAKS₁₅KAPHS₁₄
KEECH₁₄KETCH₁₄KEVEL₁₄KEVIL₁₄KHAFS₁₄
KHYAL₁₄KINKS₁₄KIPAH₁₄KIPSY₁₄KIRBY₁₄
KLIKS₁₄KNAVE₁₄KNOWN₁₄KONKS₁₄KOPHS₁₄
KOTCH₁₄KUKRI₁₄KULFI₁₄KYPES₁₄KAIAK₁₃
KAKAS₁₃KAKIS₁₃KALAM₁₃KALIF₁₃KALPA₁₃
KAPUR₁₃KAPUT₁₃KARKS₁₃KAVAS₁₃KCALS₁₃
KEAKI₁₃KEEKS₁₃KEEVE₁₃KELEP₁₃KELIM₁₃
KELLY₁₃KELPS₁₃KENAF₁₃KHETH₁₃KHUDS₁₃
KHULA₁₃KIBLA₁₃KIDDY₁₃KIEVE₁₃KIKOI₁₃
KILIM₁₃KINDY₁₃KIOSK₁₃KIRKS₁₃KITKE₁₃
KIVAS₁₃KLONG₁₃KLOOF₁₃KLUGE₁₃KNAPS₁₃
KNIFE₁₃KNOBS₁₃KNOPS₁₃KNOSP₁₃KNOWS₁₃
KOOKS₁₃KRUBI₁₃KUFIS₁₃KUGEL₁₃KUMIS₁₃
KVASS₁₃KWEEN₁₃KWELA₁₃KYLIN₁₃KYTHE₁₃

If you want to find out words starting with other letters, you can check our Master List of 5-Letter Words to find every word from A to Z!

Tips for Winning With “K” Words

  • In Wordle: Look for the “Silent K.” Many 5-letter words starting with K are followed by an ‘N’ (like KNACK₁₇ , KNIFE₁₃ , or KNEAD₁₁ ). If you are stuck on a word starting with K, testing an ‘N’ in the second spot is a great way to find the answer.
  • In Words With Friends: Use the “Double K” trick. Unlike Wordle, which rarely uses double consonants that aren’t common (like LL or SS), words like KICKY₁₈ or KAYAK₁₅ allow you to play two ‘K’ tiles at once for a solid score.
  • The ‘Y’ Connection: K often pairs beautifully with the letter Y at the end. If you have a green K at the start, don’t be afraid to test words like KINKY₁₆ or KISSY₁₁ .