Starting with the letter Y is a fantastic move. While most players use “Y” only at the end of words, using it at the beginning can help you clear difficult tiles and find vowel placements that others might miss. Here is a list of 5 letter words starting with Y to help solve the Wordle of the day or Words With Friends. To help you win your next match, we have included the Words With Friends point values as a small subscript next to each word.

5 Letter Words Starting with Y - 1

Highest Scoring 5 Letter Word Starting With Y

In competitive play, Y is a valuable 3-point tile. If you can pair it with other high-value consonants like K or J , your score will climb quickly. Here are the three best 5-letter words starting with Y for big points:

  • YUKKY₁₈ – This is the champion of ‘Y’ words. It uses a double K (5 points each) and a double Y to reach a total of 18 points. It’s a common word that’s easy to play!
  • YAJNA₁₇ – A brilliant 17-point play if you have a J (10 points). It refers to a ritual sacrifice in Hinduism and is a “pro” word that many opponents won’t see coming.
  • YUCKY₁₇ – Just like yukky, this is a heavy hitter. It uses the C and K combination to net you 17 points easily.

5 Letter Words List starting with Y

YUKKY₁₈YAJNA₁₇YUCKY₁₇YUCCH₁₆YUMMY₁₆
YUPPY₁₆YABBY₁₅YAKKA₁₅YAPPY₁₅YECCH₁₅
YOBBY₁₅YUCKS₁₅YACKS₁₄YAPOK₁₄YECHY₁₄
YEUKY₁₄YOCKS₁₄YOLKY₁₄YUCCA₁₄YAFFS₁₃
YAWNY₁₃YAWS₁₃YEUCH₁₃YOBBO₁₃YOMIM₁₃
YOMPS₁₃YACHT₁₂YAMUN₁₂YANKS₁₂YECHS₁₂
YELKS₁₂YEUKS₁₂YOGIC₁₂YOKED₁₂YOKEL₁₂
YOLKS₁₂YONKS₁₂YUPON₁₂YAPON₁₁YARAK₁₁
YARKS₁₁YAUPS₁₁YAWED₁₁YAWLS₁₁YAWNS₁₁
YEGGS₁₁YELPS₁₁YERKS₁₁YIKES₁₁YINCE₁₁
YLEMS₁₁YOGHS₁₁YOKES₁₁YONIC₁₁YONNY₁₁
YORKS₁₁YOUNG₁₁YOWED₁₁YAMEN₁₁YANDY₁₁
YOWLS₁₁YUCAS₁₁YAGNA₁₀YANGS₁₀YAULD₁₀
YERBA₁₀YIPES₁₀YODHS₁₀YOGIN₁₀YOULL₁₀
YOUTH₁₀YOWES₁₀YOWIE₁₀YUGAS₁₀YULAN₁₀
YADDA₉YAGER₉YAGES₉YAGIS₉YAHOO₉
YAUDS₉YEAHS₉YELLS₉YIELD₉YILLS₉
YIRTH₉YLIDE₉YLIDS₉YODEL₉YODLE₉

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 “Y” Words

  • In Wordle: Don’t forget the “Double Y.” While Y is common at the end of words, it often appears at both the start and end (like YUMMY₁₆ or YAPPY₁₅ ). If you have a yellow Y, try testing it at the start to narrow down the grid.
  • In Words With Friends: Use ‘Y’ as a hook. Since Y is worth 3 points, it’s a great way to boost a word that uses common 1-point letters. Words like YARNS₈ or YARDS₈ are solid, low-risk plays.
  • Vowel Swapping: If you are “vowel-heavy” with too many A’s or E’s, words like YEARN₈ or YEAST₇ are perfect for using up your vowels while keeping your score respectable.

So that’s it, peeps! I hope these “Y” words help you sail to a victory.