5-Letter Words That Start With K | List & GamingTips
5-letter words that start with K are helpful for anyone who’s curious about how to leverage the letter K in word games. They include common terms, like “kazoo,” “knife,” and “koala,” and obscure vocabulary, like “kudzu” and “krill.”
This guide includes a complete list of the 5-letter words that start with K, tips for using them in word games, and definitions of the rarest options.
When you’re looking for other types of words, QuillBot’s AI Chat can show you complete and well-curated lists based on any theme.
Table of contents
5-letter words that start with K: The complete list
The letter K is one of the least common letters in the English language, so there aren’t very many 5-letter words that start with K. Below you’ll find 31 words that can help you get unstuck when you need to use the letter K in a game or puzzle.
- KA: Kanji, kanzu, kappa, kaput, karma, kayak, kazoo
- KE: Kebab, kedge, kelly, kendo
- KH: Khaki
- KI: Kiddo, kiosk, kinky, kitty
- KN: Knack, knave, knead, kneel, knelt, knife, knock, knoll, known
- KO: Koala, kooky
- KR: Kraft, krill
- KU: Kudos, kudzu
- Plural nouns: Kings, kites, knees, knobs, knots
- Verbs: Keeps, kicks, knits, knows
5-letter words with K for Wordle
If you’re one of the many Wordle players who uses the “consonant hint” feature and discover that the solution definitely contains the letter K, the following words can make strong guesses, especially if they haven’t been solutions before:
- K as the first letter: Kappa, kaput, kedge, kendo, kinky, kudos, kudzu
- K as the 3rd letter: Poker, waken
- K as the 4th letter: Choke, flake, geeky, husky, lanky
- K as the 5th letter: Flank, flick, flunk, quirk, skunk, spark, stork
For early-game guesses, words like “kaput,” “kudos,” “poker,” “choke,” and “flake” are especially strategic because they include two vowels. They can help you quickly identify which vowels are (or aren’t) in the target word.
High-scoring 5-letter words that start with K
The letter K is worth 5 points in Scrabble and Words With Friends (the 3rd highest point value that’s possible). When you’re searching for the best way to use a letter K, these 5-letter words that start with K can maximize your score because they contain other high-value letters (especially if you get a K, Z, or J on a bonus square).
| Word | Scrabble points | WWF points |
| Kudzu | 19 | 21 |
| Kanzu | 18 | 20 |
| Kazoo | 18 | 18 |
| Kanji | 16 | 19 |
| Kayak | 16 | 15 |
5-letter words that start with K sorted by ending letter
If you’re looking for a 5-letter word that starts with K and ends with a specific letter, use the chart below to find the perfect match.
| Ends with | Word options |
| A | Kappa, karma, koala |
| B | Kebab |
| E | Kedge, knave, knife |
| D | Knead |
| I | Kanji, khaki |
| K | Kayak, kiosk, knack, knock |
| L | Kneel, knoll, krill |
| O | Kazoo, kendo |
| S | Kudos |
| T | Kaput, knelt, kraft |
| U | Kanzu, kudzu |
| Y | Kelly, kinky, kooky, kitty |
Advanced 5-letter words that start with K
Some of the 5-letter words that start with K are more obscure than others. Here are definitions and examples for a few of the least common.
- Kendo: Japanese fencing sport with bamboo swords (e.g., “The new dojo will offer kendo lessons in addition to karate.”)
- Kiosk: Small, open structure for selling merchandise or services (e.g., “I purchased my favorite sunglasses from a kiosk at the airport.”)
- Knave: An old-fashioned word for the jack in a deck of cards (e.g., “My opponent drew a knave and won the game.”)
- Knoll: Small, round hill or mound (e.g., “Several concert fans gathered on a grassy knoll outside the venue to wait for their rides.”)
- Krill: Small, shrimplike sea creature (e.g., “Krill are essential for whales’ survival because they’re an important food source.”)
- Kudzu: A vine from Asia that became an invasive weed in the southeastern US (e.g., “The kudzu vines eventually took over the Wisteria and Magnolia in the backyard.”)
Frequently asked questions about 5-letter words that start with K
- What are some words with K and Z?
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Words with K and Z are extremely rare. Options include:
- Balkanize: Break up a large country into smaller countries
- Bazooka: Large firearm
- Buzzkill: Someone who brings the vibe down
- Kanzu: Long white robe worn by men in the Swahili culture
- Kazoo: Small musical instrument that makes a buzzing sound
- Klutz: Clumsy person
- Kudzu: An Asian vine that’s invasive in the southeastern US
- Kwanzaa: African American cultural festival from December 26–Jan 1
- Ozark: Region in the central US that includes southern Missouri and northern Arkansas
- Ziplock: Interlocking groove that makes a plastic bag seal (or the type of plastic bag that has this)
- Zombielike: Behaving or appearing like a zombie
- Zookeeper: Person at the zoo who takes care of animals
Have you tried QuillBot’s AI Chat for help with solving word puzzles or finding new vocabulary? It can quickly show you word lists for any theme, including 5-letter words that start with K, verbs that start with K, and more.
- What are some words with K and J?
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Words with K and J can help you score big in word games, solve crossword clues, and expand your vocabulary. Here are some options.
- Blackjack: Card game found in casinos
- Carjack: Steal a car while someone’s driving it
- Crackerjack: Extraordinary person
- Flapjack: Pancake
- Hijack: Steal a plane or other vehicle while it’s in transit
- Jackal: Wild mammal in Africa and Asia
- Jacket: Lightweight coat
- Jacks: Game with a rubber ball and spiky, metal objects with 5 points; two or more of the jack cards in a standard deck
- Jackalope: Mythical creature that’s part rabbit, part antelope
- Jackfruit: Bland, starchy fruit often used as a substitute for shredded meat
- Jackpot: Top prize in a lottery or contest
- Janky: Slang word for “low quality”
- Jawbreaker: A hard candy that’s almost impossible to break
- Jaywalk: Illegally cross the street (e.g., without a crosswalk or walking signal)
- Jerks: Plural form of a slang word for a rude person
- Jerky: Dehydrated meat for snacking
- Jock: Slang word for a person who plays lots of sports
- Jockey: Person who rides horses in a race
- Joke: Funny or sarcastic saying
- Joystick: Handheld videogame control
- Jukebox: Machine that plays songs when you insert cash or coins
- Junk: Old or broken stuff nobody wants anymore
- Junket: Business trip for promoting a movie, product, or similar
- Kanji: Style of Japanese writing with Chinese influences (the only 5-letter word that starts with K and includes J)
- Lumberjack: Person who cuts down trees for a living
- Tearjerker: Film or book that makes people cry
- Yellowjacket: Type of wasp with a yellow and black body
Looking for other words with the letter J or the letter K? QuillBot’s free AI Chat can help you find what you need!
- What are some 5-letter words with A and K?
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Here are some 5-letter words with A and K:
- Ankle, askew, awake, awoke
- Black, blank, bleak, brake, break
- Caulk, chalk, cloak, crack, crank, creak, croak
- Drank, flack, flake, flank, flask, frank, freak, haiku
- Kanji, kappa, kaput, karma, kayak, kebab, khaki, knack, knave, knead, koala, kraft
- Lanky, leaky, maker, naked, oaken
- Parka, plank, polka, prank, quack, quake, quark
- Shack, shake, shaky, shank, shark, skate, slack, smack, snack, snake, spank, spark, speak, stack, stake, stalk, stark, steak
- Tacky, taken, taker, thank, track, tweak, vodka
- Wacky, wrack, wreak
Most of the 5-letter words that start with K also have the letter A. QuillBot’s free AI Chat can show you other word lists or help you understand how to use new vocabulary.
- What are some words with K and V?
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Here are some words with K and V:
- Evoke
- Invoke
- Knave
- Knives
- Livestock
- Makeover
- Maverick
- Overlook
- Provoke
- Revoke
- Skydiving
- Takeover
- Vodka
QuillBot’s AI Chat can quickly show you word lists for any purpose or theme. Simply type a prompt about the type of word you’re looking for, such as 5-letter words that start with K.
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Routh, N. (2026, February 02). 5-Letter Words That Start With K | List & GamingTips. Quillbot. Retrieved February 4, 2026, from https://quillbot.com/blog/word-finder/5-letter-words-that-start-with-k/
