6-letter words with V as the 1st letter and U as the 3rd letter

The pattern is V _ U _ _ _, so the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth letters remain open. VAULTS and VAUNTS are easier to recognize than VOUDON or VOULGE, but all 12 match the same positions. Only one of the matches falls among the commonest English words, so this is a narrow clue rather than a rich pool of everyday guesses.

At a glance: V first, U third

• The fixed pattern V _ U _ _ _ produces 12 six-letter matches.
• Collins includes all 12 matches; NWL2023 includes 5, and ENABLE includes 4.
• Only one of the 12 words is common by the frequency measure used here.
• VAULTY and VAUNTY tie for the highest score at 12 points; VAUNCE scores 11.

How do the endings and dictionary counts narrow the list?

Four matches end in S: VAULTS, VAUNTS, VAUTES, and VOUGES. VAUNCE and VOULGE end in E, while VAULTY and VAUNTY end in Y. The remaining words each have a different final letter: VAUTED ends in D, VOUDON in N, VAUDOO in O, and VOUDOU in U.

Those endings give you a practical way to test a clue before checking every candidate. A final S leaves four options, while the shared VAULT- start distinguishes VAULTS and VAULTY from words beginning VAUNT-. Dictionary coverage also varies: the Collins count is broader than the NWL2023 or ENABLE counts, so check your game's word list before relying on an unfamiliar entry.

Which V-and-U words stand out for scoring?

VAULTY and VAUNTY lead the score list at 12 points each, with VAUNCE close behind at 11. VAULTS scores 9, while VOUDON, VAUDOO, VAUTED, VOUDOU, VOUGES, and VOULGE each score 10. These are base word scores, so board bonuses can change the result.

For a letter-pattern puzzle, keep the fixed V and U in place and work through the endings rather than treating every unfamiliar spelling as interchangeable. 6-letter words with V as the 1st letter and U as the 3rd letter include many uncommon entries; VAULTS is a more recognizable check, while VOUDON and VOUDOU are less familiar options to verify.