6-letter words with S as the 2nd letter and P as the 3rd letter

The fixed SP pairing leaves only 19 six-letter entries across the tournament lists. Eleven begin with A, seven with E, and one with O, so the pattern is concentrated in two openings. Only two entries are common by frequency; most of the remaining choices are specialist vocabulary rather than everyday words.

The S-P pattern at a glance

• All 19 matches put S second and P third, giving each word the opening shape _SP.
• ASPICK leads the score ranking at 14 points; OSPREY and ASPISH score 11 apiece.
• ASPECT and ASPICS score 10 each, while ASPIRE and ESPRIT score 8.
• Eleven entries start with A, seven with E, and OSPREY is the only O-starting match.

Which six-letter words have S second and P third?

Familiar matches include ASPECT, ASPIRE, ASPENS, OSPREY, and ESPRIT. The wider group also contains less familiar forms such as ESPOIR, ESPADA, ASPICK, and ESPIAL. Every answer shares the _SP shape, but the first letter divides the group sharply.

AS- accounts for 11 matches, including ASPECT, ASPENS, and ASPERS; ES- supplies 7, including ESPRIT, ESPADA, and ESPIES. OSPREY stands alone under O. For a pattern clue, try A and E before spending a guess on O.

Endings narrow the options further: five entries finish in S, four in T, and E and R each finish two. ASPENS and ASPECT are candidates when you already know the final letter is S or T.

How does this pattern compare with nearby letter pairs?

The six-letter set with A second and P third has 155 matches, compared with 19 for S and P. Keeping S second but changing P to T yields 36, so the S-P combination is especially restrictive.

ASPICK leads the score ranking at 14 points, ahead of OSPREY and ASPISH at 11 apiece. ASPECT and ASPICS score 10 each. Those high values come from less familiar entries, so weigh board placement and word-list confidence alongside the score.

Dictionary coverage also differs: 18 entries appear in Collins, 12 in NWL2023, and 11 in ENABLE. Those counts overlap; they are not separate groups to add together. Only 13 matches are defined, and just two are common, so check your game's word list before building a play around an obscure form.