3-letter words starting with V

V has a compact three-letter lineup: just 31 entries, with 13 counted as common English words. VIA and VAN are recognizable options, while several of the top scorers are less familiar. Dictionary coverage shifts by game too: ENABLE includes 21, Collins includes 29, and NWL2023 includes 26.

Quick facts about three-letter V words

• The full tournament-dictionary count is 31 words.
• VOX, VEX, and VAX each score 13 points.
• Five words end in G, the most frequent final letter.
• Twenty-eight entries have definitions available.

Which 3-letter words starting with V score highest?

VOX, VEX, and VAX lead the scoring list at 13 points apiece. Each packs a valuable X into a short word, so these are the first plays to check when you need to unload that tile. A premium square can raise the play further, but base scores give you a useful baseline.

VOW, VAV, VAW, and VLY follow at 9 points each. VAC, VIM, and VUM score 8. Compare those options with VIA or VAN when you need a more familiar word; a lower-value tile can still be the better fit for your rack or board.

How do these V words vary by ending?

The endings are not evenly spread: G leads with five words, E has four, and X has three. That makes VAX and VOX worth remembering when a board opening calls for an X ending, while VIE and VEE offer E endings from the examples.

Only 13 of the 31 entries are classed as common, so expect some unfamiliar plays beyond choices like VIA, VAN, VET, and VOW. The dictionary counts differ too: Collins covers 29, compared with 21 in ENABLE. Check your game's word list before relying on a less familiar entry.

For more options, compare 3-letter words starting with V with the longer V lists. The neighboring three-letter T and U lists also offer different opening letters when your rack does not support V.