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

The shape is tighter than it first looks: 11 of the 13 matches start with S, and every word ends in N. STERN and STAIN are the most recognizable examples, while STEEN, STARN, and STOLN are less familiar. Just three matches count as common English words, so a correct letter pattern does not guarantee an everyday answer.

Pattern facts at a glance

• 13 tournament-dictionary words place T second and N fifth.
• STERN and STAIN are familiar matches; STOWN is the top Scrabble scorer at 8 points.
• S begins 11 matches; A and E begin one each.
• Three words are common by frequency, and seven have definitions.
• Collins includes all 13; ENABLE and NWL2023 each include 4.

Which examples and endings narrow the set?

Three words in this pattern appear in Wordle’s answer list, and all 13 are allowed guesses. The answer-list matches are not identified by name here, so treat the pattern as a filter rather than a complete answer key. STERN and STAIN are recognizable examples to test against your revealed letters.

Strong, string, and strand make the pattern feel more common than its frequency count suggests. Their shared S opening is helpful, but there are eleven E endings as well as eleven S endings. Use the known final tile to avoid overcommitting to the first cluster.

Strong, string, and strand are recognizable S-first words, but attend starts with A and ethane starts with E. This small set has three distinct opening letters, with most words in the S group. A crossing at the first position can therefore cut the search sharply before you compare the tied final letters.

A practical clue check

For a word game, separate familiar candidates from dictionary-specific ones. STERN and STAIN are easier to recognize; STEIN and ATMAN add alternatives, while STEEN, STARN, and STOLN are less everyday entries. Only three matches are common, so a plausible-looking guess may still be unfamiliar.

For Scrabble, STOWN leads at 8 points, followed by ATMAN at 7; STERN, STAIN, and STEIN each score 5. Those are base word scores, not a promise of a strong board play: letter and word squares can change the result. Collins has the full set, but ENABLE and NWL2023 have only 4 apiece, so check your game's word list before relying on an obscure match.