5-letter words with N as the 2nd letter and I as the 4th letter

The pattern is _ N _ I _, so N stays in slot two and I stays in slot four. Familiar matches include UNTIL, SNAIL, UNFIT and ANVIL, while UNZIP tops the scoring list at 16 points. The collection spans several tournament dictionaries, but only four matches rank among frequently used English words.

At a glance: the _N_I_ pattern

• 34 tournament-dictionary words fit the _N_I_ pattern.
• U leads with 20 matches; I follows with six.
• D and T tie as the most common final letters, with five words apiece.
• UNZIP scores 16 points; INFIX, UNFIX and ENFIX each score 15.
• Collins includes 33 matches, NWL2023 26 and ENABLE 25.

How many 5-letter words have N second and I fourth?

Only four matches fall within the top 25,000 English words by frequency. UNTIL, SNAIL, UNFIT and ANVIL are recognizable examples, but the overall count also includes less familiar entries. In a puzzle, a dictionary can accept a pattern match that rarely comes to mind.

U accounts for 20 of the 34 words, dwarfing the next starting letter, I, with six. A and E each contribute three; O and S contribute one apiece. When the pattern is fixed, try U-starting options first, then test I rather than cycling evenly through the alphabet.

At the other end, D and T each close five entries; L and X each close four. The final slot is more balanced than the first: UN- dominates the opening, while endings split across several letters. UNTIL, UNFIT and UNZIP show how widely the last letter can vary.

How do these patterned words score?

UNZIP is the standout rack score at 16, with INFIX, UNFIX and ENFIX tied at 15. UNMIX follows at 14. If you have a Z and need this pattern, consider UNZIP before spending a turn on a lower-value familiar option.

The dictionary split is a practical limit: Collins has 33 matches, compared with 26 in NWL2023 and 25 in ENABLE. Some accepted words therefore depend on your game's lexicon. Check that list before challenging an unfamiliar entry; a strong score does not guarantee acceptance everywhere.