3 Letter Words Starting with L
There are 44 3-letter English words that start with L, ranging alphabetically from LAB to LYE. Top Scrabble® scorers on this list: LEZ (12), LUX (10), LAX (10). The list is ordered alphabetically; use the filter box below to jump to a specific starting letter.
Word list
L
- LAB5 pts
- LAC5 pts
- LAD4 pts
- LAG4 pts
- LAM5 pts
- LAP5 pts
- LAR3 pts
- LAS3 pts
- LAT3 pts
- LAV6 pts
- LAW6 pts
- LAX10 pts
- LAY6 pts
- LEA3 pts
- LED4 pts
- LEE3 pts
- LEG4 pts
- LEI3 pts
- LEK7 pts
- LET3 pts
- LEU3 pts
- LEV6 pts
- LEX10 pts
- LEY6 pts
- LEZ12 pts
- LIB5 pts
- LID4 pts
- LIE3 pts
- LIN3 pts
- LIP5 pts
- LIS3 pts
- LIT3 pts
- LOB5 pts
- LOG4 pts
- LOO3 pts
- LOP5 pts
- LOT3 pts
- LOW6 pts
- LOX10 pts
- LUG4 pts
- LUM5 pts
- LUV6 pts
- LUX10 pts
- LYE6 pts
Point values shown are Scrabble® (letters only, before board bonuses). Browse deeper via the word-lists hub.
Top 10 highest-scoring words
Scored on letters only (no board bonuses). WWF uses different tile values from Scrabble — J, Q and Z are worth 10 points in WWF; X is worth 8.
| # | Word | Scrabble | WWF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | lez | 12 | 13 |
| 2 | lux | 10 | 12 |
| 3 | lax | 10 | 11 |
| 4 | lex | 10 | 11 |
| 5 | lox | 10 | 11 |
| 6 | lek | 7 | 8 |
| 7 | luv | 6 | 9 |
| 8 | lav | 6 | 8 |
| 9 | lev | 6 | 8 |
| 10 | law | 6 | 7 |
Strategy for this list
L is worth 1 in Scrabble and starts ~5,000 words. L is a flexible letter — it forms LA, LI, LO two-letter words, extends to LY hooks (all -LY adverbs) and combines with almost every vowel and consonant. L-openers with premium potential include LAZED, LAZIEST, LAYING. In Wordle, L is high-frequency in position 2 and 4 (SLATE, PLATE, WHALE) — testing L in one of those positions is a strong mid-game move.
FAQs
How many 3-letter words start with L?
44 valid 3-letter English words begin with L in the ENABLE English word list.
Are these valid in Wordle and Scrabble?
Words on this page come from the ENABLE English word list. UK Scrabble (Collins Scrabble Words) accepts the overwhelming majority; a handful may not be legal in the North American NASPA Word List (NWL2023).