6-letter words with H as the 1st letter and U as the 2nd letter

The opening HU narrows the search to 92 six-letter entries, but the group is less everyday than its familiar examples suggest. Only 14 are common by frequency, while 73 have definitions. HUMANS, HUNGRY, and HUNTER are easy to recognize; several of the strongest scoring options are much less familiar.

Quick facts about the HU pattern

• There are 92 six-letter words with H in position one and U in position two.
• Only 14 matches are common by English-word frequency.
• The most frequent final letter is S, with 16 words ending that way.
• HUZZAH leads the scoring examples at 30 points; HUZZAS scores 27.
• The Collins list contains 90 matches, compared with 66 in NWL2023.

Which endings are most common?

S is the leading final letter, appearing in 16 entries; R follows with 15, then D with 14. Words such as HUMANS and HUMMUS show the S ending, while HUNTER and HURLER illustrate the R group. These endings offer a quick way to narrow a clue without changing the HU start.

The pattern is smaller than several nearby choices: H-A has 242 six-letter matches and H-O has 218, versus 92 for H-U. That makes the second letter a strong filter. Among recognizable entries, HUMBLE, HUMANE, HUSTLE, and HURDLE cover very different word shapes.

Can 6-letter words with H first and U second score well?

Yes: HUZZAH scores 30 points, HUZZAS scores 27, and HUTZPA scores 20 in the scoring data. Those standouts rely on high-value letters, not on the more familiar HUMANS or HUNGRY. HUMBLY and HUMPTY also reach 16, giving you more options when a premium square is available.

The catch is that a high score does not guarantee acceptance in every game. The 92-word total combines entries found in at least one tournament dictionary; Collins has 90, ENABLE has 56, and NWL2023 has 66, so check your game's word list before playing an unfamiliar form.