L Words: Liquid Consonants and Crossword Gold
Linguists call L a "liquid consonant" because of how smoothly it flows in speech — and that smoothness shows up in word games too. L is everywhere: LOVE, LIGHT, LEARN, LEMON, LATCH. It scores just 1 point in Scrabble with 4 tiles in the bag, making it one of the most common draws. What's interesting about L is its behavior at the end of words. English has an unusual fondness for final L sounds — TALL, BELL, FILL, PULL — and that double-L ending is almost uniquely English among European languages. French and Spanish words ending in L rarely double it.
For crossword solvers, L words offer a particular advantage: the prefix-suffix flexibility. L starts common words (LAMP, LATE, LONG) but also anchors key suffixes (-LY, -LESS, -LIKE, -LING). If you're working a crossword and see _ _ _ L Y, you've got thousands of adverbs to consider. In Scrabble, the best L strategy is often to save it for -LY or -LE endings that extend existing words on the board.
Quick tip: LA is a valid two-letter word in Scrabble (it's a musical note), and so is LI. These tiny plays can open up tight board positions when nothing else fits. For more one-point tile strategies, browse words starting with A or words starting with S. If you're after unusual L combinations, words ending in Q includes a few surprises where L precedes Q in borrowed words.
FAQ
What does "liquid consonant" mean for L?
In phonetics, liquid consonants (L and R) are produced with partial airflow obstruction, creating a smooth, vowel-like quality. This is why L can function almost like a vowel in words like BOTTLE and LITTLE, where the final syllable has no true vowel sound. For another letter with unusual phonetic properties, see words starting with W, which behaves as both consonant and vowel-like sound.
What are the most useful L words in Scrabble?
Short plays like LA, LI, and EL (a valid word meaning the letter L) are board-openers. For bigger scores, LAZILY, LOQUAT, and LUXURY combine L with high-value tiles. The -LY suffix is your best friend for bingo extensions. Check words starting with X for high-value letters that pair well with L in words like LYNX.
Why do so many English words end in double L?
English inherited double-L endings from Old English spelling conventions, where the doubled consonant indicated a short vowel before it (BELL vs. BEL). Other Germanic languages simplified this over time, but English kept it. Words like TALL, SKILL, and DULL follow this ancient pattern. For more on word endings, explore words starting with U and the UN- prefix family.
Two-Letter Words (3)
LALILO
Three-Letter Words (45)
LABLACLADLAGLAMLAPLARLASLATLAVLAWLAXLAYLEALEDLEELEGLEILEKLESLETLEULEVLEXLEYLEZLIBLIDLIELINLIPLISLITLOBLOGLOOLOPLOTLOWLOXLUGLUMLUVLUXLYE
Four-Letter Words (215)
LABSLACELACKLACSLACYLADELADSLADYLAGSLAICLAIDLAINLAIRLAKELAKHLAKYLALLLAMALAMBLAMELAMPLAMSLANDLANELANGLANKLAPSLARDLARILARKLARSLASELASHLASSLASTLATELATHLATILATSLATULAUDLAVALAVELAVSLAWNLAWSLAYSLAZELAZYLEADLEAFLEAKLEALLEANLEAPLEARLEASLECHLEEKLEERLEESLEETLEFTLEGSLEHRLEISLEKELEKSLEKULENDLENOLENSLENTLEPTLESSLESTLETSLEUDLEVALEVOLEVYLEWDLEYSLIARLIBSLICELICHLICKLIDOLIDSLIEDLIEFLIENLIERLIESLIEULIFELIFTLIKELILO
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Five-Letter Words (416)
LAARILABELLABIALABORLABRALACEDLACERLACESLACEYLACKSLADEDLADENLADERLADESLADLELAEVOLAGANLAGERLAHARLAICHLAICSLAIGHLAIRDLAIRSLAITHLAITYLAKEDLAKERLAKESLAKHSLALLSLAMASLAMBSLAMBYLAMEDLAMERLAMESLAMIALAMPSLANAILANCELANDSLANESLANKYLAPELLAPINLAPISLAPSELARCHLARDSLARDYLAREELARESLARGELARGOLARISLARKSLARKYLARUMLARVALASEDLASERLASESLASSILASSOLASTSLATCHLATEDLATENLATERLATEXLATHELATHILATHSLATHYLATKELATTELAUANLAUDSLAUGHLAURALAVASLAVEDLAVERLAVESLAWEDLAWNSLAWNYLAXERLAXESLAXLYLAYEDLAYERLAYINLAYUPLAZARLAZEDLAZESLEACHLEADS
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Six-Letter Words (661)
LAAGERLABARALABELSLABIALLABILELABIUMLABORSLABOURLABRETLABRUMLACERSLACHESLACIERLACILYLACINGLACKEDLACKERLACKEYLACTAMLACTICLACUNALACUNELADDERLADDIELADENSLADERSLADIESLADINGLADINOLADLEDLADLERLADLESLADRONLAGANSLAGENDLAGERSLAGGEDLAGGERLAGOONLAGUNALAGUNELAHARSLAICALLAICHSLAIGHSLAIRDSLAIREDLAKERSLAKIERLAKINGLALLANLALLEDLAMBDALAMBEDLAMBERLAMBIELAMEDHLAMEDSLAMELYLAMENTLAMESTLAMIAELAMIASLAMINALAMINGLAMMEDLAMPADLAMPASLAMPEDLANAISLANATELANCEDLANCERLANCESLANCETLANDAULANDEDLANDERLANELYLANGUELANGURLANKERLANKLYLANNERLANOSELANUGOLAOGAILAPDOGLAPELSLAPFULLAPINSLAPPEDLAPPERLAPPETLAPSEDLAPSERLAPSESLAPSUSLAPTOPLARDED
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Seven-Letter Words (846)
LAAGERSLABARUMLABELEDLABELERLABELLALABIALSLABIATELABOREDLABORERLABOURSLABRETSLABROIDLABRUMSLACIESTLACINGSLACKERSLACKEYSLACKINGLACONICLACQUERLACQUEYLACTAMSLACTARYLACTASELACTATELACTEALLACTEANLACTONELACTOSELACUNAELACUNALLACUNARLACUNASLACUNESLADANUMLADDERSLADDIESLADDISHLADENEDLADHOODLADINGSLADINOSLADLERSLADLINGLADRONELADRONSLADYBUGLADYISHLADYKINLAGENDSLAGEREDLAGGARDLAGGERSLAGGINGLAGOONSLAGUNASLAGUNESLAICISELAICISMLAICIZELAIRDLYLAIRINGLAITHLYLAITIESLAKEBEDLAKIESTLAKINGSLALIQUELALLANDLALLANSLALLINGLAMBADALAMBASTLAMBDASLAMBENTLAMBERSLAMBERTLAMBIERLAMBIESLAMBINGLAMBKINLAMEDHSLAMELLALAMENTSLAMINAELAMINALLAMINARLAMINASLAMININLAMMINGLAMPADSLAMPERSLAMPINGLAMPIONLAMPOONLAMPREYLAMSTERLANATEDLANCERSLANCETS
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Eight-Letter Words (929)
LAAGEREDLABARUMSLABDANUMLABELERSLABELINGLABELLEDLABELLERLABELLUMLABIALLYLABIATEDLABIATESLABILITYLABORERSLABORINGLABORITELABOUREDLABOURERLABRADORLABROIDSLABRUSCALABURNUMLACELESSLACELIKELACERATELACERTIDLACEWINGLACEWOODLACEWORKLACINESSLACKADAYLACKEREDLACKEYEDLACONISMLACQUERSLACQUEYSLACRIMALLACROSSELACTASESLACTATEDLACTATESLACTEALSLACTEOUSLACTONESLACTONICLACTOSESLACUNARSLACUNARYLACUNATELACUNOSELADANUMSLADDEREDLADENINGLADHOODSLADLEFULLADRONESLADYBIRDLADYBUGSLADYFISHLADYHOODLADYKINSLADYLIKELADYLOVELADYPALMLADYSHIPLAETRILELAGERINGLAGGARDSLAGGINGSLAGNAPPELAGOONALLAICALLYLAICISEDLAICISESLAICISMSLAICIZEDLAICIZESLAITANCELAKEBEDSLAKELIKELAKEPORTLAKESIDELALIQUESLALLANDSLALLYGAGLAMASERYLAMBADASLAMBASTELAMBASTSLAMBDOIDLAMBENCYLAMBERTSLAMBIESTLAMBKILLLAMBKINSLAMBLIKELAMBSKINLAMELLAELAMELLARLAMELLASLAMENESS
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Nine-Letter Words (812)
LAAGERINGLABDANUMSLABELABLELABELLATELABELLERSLABELLINGLABELLOIDLABIALITYLABIALIZELABOREDLYLABORIOUSLABORITESLABOURERSLABOURINGLABRADORSLABURNUMSLABYRINTHLACCOLITHLACERABLELACERATEDLACERATESLACERTIDSLACEWINGSLACEWOODSLACEWORKSLACHRYMALLACINIATELACKERINGLACKEYINGLACONISMSLACQUEREDLACQUERERLACQUEYEDLACRIMALSLACROSSESLACTATINGLACTATIONLACTEALLYLACUNARIALADDERINGLADLEFULSLADYBIRDSLADYHOODSLADYLOVESLADYPALMSLADYSHIPSLAETRILESLAGGARDLYLAGNAPPESLAGNIAPPELAGOMORPHLAICISINGLAICIZINGLAIRDSHIPLAITANCESLAKEFRONTLAKEPORTSLAKESHORELAKESIDESLALLATIONLALLYGAGSLAMBASTEDLAMBASTESLAMBENTLYLAMBKILLSLAMBRUSCOLAMBSKINSLAMEBRAINLAMELLATELAMELLOSELAMENTERSLAMENTINGLAMINABLELAMINARIALAMINARINLAMINATEDLAMINATESLAMINATORLAMINITISLAMISTERSLAMPBLACKLAMPERSESLAMPLIGHTLAMPOONEDLAMPOONERLAMPPOSTSLAMPSHADELAMPSHELLLAMPYRIDSLANCELETSLANCEWOODLANCIFORMLANCINATELANDAULETLANDFALLSLANDFILLSLANDFORMSLANDGRABSLANDGRAVELANDLINES
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Ten-Letter Words (546)
LABIALIZEDLABIALIZESLABILITIESLABIOVELARLABORATORYLABYRINTHSLACCOLITHSLACERATINGLACERATIONLACERATIVELACHRYMALSLACHRYMOSELACINESSESLACKLUSTERLACQUERERSLACQUERINGLACQUEYINGLACRIMATORLACTATIONSLACTOGENICLACUSTRINELADDERLIKELADYFINGERLADYFISHESLAGNIAPPESLAGOMORPHSLAIRDSHIPSLAKEFRONTSLAKESHORESLALLATIONSLAMASERIESLAMBASTINGLAMBENCIESLAMBREQUINLAMBRUSCOSLAMEBRAINSLAMENESSESLAMENTABLELAMENTABLYLAMENTEDLYLAMINARIANLAMINARIASLAMINARINSLAMINATINGLAMINATIONLAMINATORSLAMPBLACKSLAMPLIGHTSLAMPOONERSLAMPOONERYLAMPOONINGLAMPSHADESLAMPSHELLSLANCEOLATELANCEWOODSLANCINATEDLANCINATESLANDAULETSLANDFILLEDLANDGRAVESLANDHOLDERLANDLADIESLANDLOCKEDLANDLOPERSLANDLUBBERLANDMARKEDLANDMASSESLANDOWNERSLANDOWNINGLANDSCAPEDLANDSCAPERLANDSCAPESLANDSLIDESLANGLAUFERLANGOSTINOLANGOUSTESLANGRIDGESLANGUETTESLANGUISHEDLANGUISHERLANGUISHESLANGUOROUSLANKNESSESLANOSITIESLANTHANIDELANTHANONSLANTHANUMSLANUGINOUSLAPAROTOMYLAPIDARIANLAPIDARIESLAPIDATINGLAPIDIFIEDLAPIDIFIESLARCENISTSLARGEMOUTHLARGHETTOSLARVICIDALLARVICIDESLARYNGEALS
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Eleven-Letter Words (379)
LABIALITIESLABIALIZINGLABIODENTALLABIOVELARSLABORIOUSLYLABORSAVINGLABRADORITELACCOLITHICLACERATIONSLACHRYMATORLACINIATIONLACKLUSTERSLACONICALLYLACQUERWARELACQUERWORKLACRIMATIONLACRIMATORSLACTALBUMINLACTATIONALLACTIFEROUSLADYFINGERSLAGGARDNESSLAICIZATIONLALLYGAGGEDLAMBREQUINSLAMEBRAINEDLAMELLATELYLAMELLICORNLAMELLIFORMLAMENTATIONLAMINARIANSLAMINATIONSLAMINITISESLAMMERGEIERLAMMERGEYERLAMPLIGHTERLANCINATINGLANDFILLINGLANDHOLDERSLANDHOLDINGLANDLORDISMLANDLUBBERSLANDLUBBINGLANDMARKINGLANDOWNINGSLANDSCAPERSLANDSCAPINGLANDSCAPISTLANDSLIDDENLANDSLIDINGLANGBEINITELANGLAUFERSLANGOSTINOSLANGOUSTINELANGUIDNESSLANGUISHERSLANGUISHINGLANKINESSESLANTHANIDESLAPAROSCOPELAPAROSCOPYLAPIDIFYINGLARCENOUSLYLARGEMOUTHSLARGENESSESLARKINESSESLARYNGOLOGYLASTINGNESSLATCHSTRINGLATERALIZEDLATERALIZESLATERALLINGLATIFUNDIOSLATIFUNDIUMLATITUDINALLATTICEWORKLAUNDERETTELAUNDRESSESLAUNDRETTESLAUREATIONSLAVALLIERESLAVENDERINGLAWBREAKERSLAWBREAKINGLAWLESSNESSLAWRENCIUMSLEADERBOARDLEADERSHIPSLEAFHOPPERSLEAFINESSESLEAFLETEERSLEAFLETTINGLEAKINESSESLEAPFROGGEDLEARNEDNESSLEASEHOLDERLEATHERBACKLEATHERETTELEATHERLEAFLEATHERLIKE
and 279 more — use the solver above to search
Twelve-Letter Words (222)
LABANOTATIONLABIODENTALSLABORATORIESLABRADORITESLABYRINTHIANLABYRINTHINELACHRYMATORSLACHRYMOSELYLACHRYMOSITYLACINIATIONSLACQUERWARESLACQUERWORKSLACRIMATIONSLACTALBUMINSLACTOBACILLILAICIZATIONSLALLYGAGGINGLAMELLICORNSLAMENTATIONSLAMMERGEIERSLAMMERGEYERSLAMPLIGHTERSLAMPOONERIESLANDHOLDINGSLANDLESSNESSLANDLORDISMSLANDLUBBERLYLANDSCAPISTSLANGBEINITESLANGOUSTINESLANGUISHMENTLANGUOROUSLYLAPAROSCOPESLAPAROSCOPICLAPAROTOMIESLARGEHEARTEDLARYNGECTOMYLARYNGITISESLARYNGOSCOPELARYNGOSCOPYLASCIVIOUSLYLATCHSTRINGSLATERALIZINGLATERIZATIONLATINIZATIONLATTICEWORKSLAUDABLENESSLAUNDERETTESLAUREATESHIPLAVISHNESSESLAWBREAKINGSLAWFULNESSESLEACHABILITYLEADENNESSESLEADERBOARDSLEAPFROGGINGLEASEHOLDERSLEATHERBACKSLEATHERETTESLEATHERNECKSLEATHERWOODSLECITHINASESLECTIONARIESLECTURESHIPSLEGALIZATIONLEGERDEMAINSLEGIBILITIESLEGIONNAIRESLEGISLATIONSLEGISLATIVESLEGISLATURESLEGITIMACIESLEGITIMATELYLEGITIMATINGLEGITIMATIONLEGITIMATIZELEGITIMATORSLEGITIMISINGLEGITIMIZERSLEGITIMIZINGLEMONGRASSESLENTIVIRUSESLEOPARDESSESLEPIDOPTERANLEPROSARIUMSLEPTOCEPHALILETTERBOXINGLEUKEMOGENICLEUKOCYTOSESLEUKOCYTOSISLEUKOPLAKIASLEUKOPOIESESLEUKOPOIESISLEUKOPOIETICLEUKOTRIENESLEVITATIONALLEVOROTATORYLEXICALITIESLEXICALIZINGLEXICOGRAPHY
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Thirteen-Letter Words (116)
LABANOTATIONSLABIALIZATIONLABORIOUSNESSLACKADAISICALLACTOBACILLUSLACTOGLOBULINLAGGARDNESSESLAMELLIBRANCHLANDOWNERSHIPLANGUIDNESSESLANGUISHINGLYLANGUISHMENTSLAPAROSCOPIESLAPAROSCOPISTLARYNGECTOMEELARYNGOLOGIESLARYNGOSCOPESLASTINGNESSESLATERIZATIONSLATINIZATIONSLATITUDINALLYLAUGHABLENESSLAUGHINGSTOCKLAUREATESHIPSLAWLESSNESSESLEARNEDNESSESLEATHERLEAVESLECHEROUSNESSLEGALIZATIONSLEGISLATIVELYLEGISLATORIALLEGITIMATIONSLEGITIMATIZEDLEGITIMATIZESLEISHMANIASESLEISHMANIASISLEISURELINESSLENGTHINESSESLEPIDOPTERANSLEPIDOPTERISTLEPIDOPTEROUSLEPRECHAUNISHLEPTOCEPHALUSLEPTOSPIROSESLEPTOSPIROSISLETHARGICALLYLETTERBOXINGSLETTERPRESSESLETTERSPACINGLEXICOGRAPHERLEXICOGRAPHICLEXICOLOGISTSLIBERALNESSESLIBERATIONISTLIBRARIANSHIPLICHENOLOGIESLICHENOLOGISTLICKERISHNESSLIEBFRAUMILCHLIEUTENANCIESLIGHTFASTNESSLIGHTSOMENESSLIGNIFICATIONLIKABLENESSESLILTINGNESSESLIMITEDNESSESLIMITLESSNESSLINEARIZATIONLINEBREEDINGSLINGONBERRIESLINGUISTICIANLIQUEFACTIONSLISSOMENESSESLISTENERSHIPSLITERALNESSESLITHIFICATIONLITHOGRAPHERSLITHOGRAPHIESLITHOGRAPHINGLITHOTRIPSIESLITHOTRIPTERSLITHOTRIPTORSLITIGIOUSNESSLIVABLENESSESLIVEABILITIESLOATHSOMENESSLOCALIZATIONSLOCKSMITHINGSLOCKSTITCHINGLOGICALNESSESLOGOGRAMMATICLONGANIMITIESLOSABLENESSESLOUTISHNESSESLOVABLENESSESLUCRATIVENESSLUDICROUSNESSLUMINESCENCESLUMPISHNESSESLUNCHEONETTES
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Fourteen-Letter Words (82)
LABIALIZATIONSLABYRINTHODONTLACHRYMOSITIESLACTOGLOBULINSLAMELLIBRANCHSLAMENTABLENESSLANDLESSNESSESLANDOWNERSHIPSLAPAROSCOPISTSLARYNGECTOMEESLARYNGECTOMIESLARYNGOSCOPIESLASCIVIOUSNESSLATERALIZATIONLATITUDINARIANLAUDABLENESSESLAUGHINGSTOCKSLEACHABILITIESLEGALISTICALLYLEGISLATORSHIPLEGITIMATIZINGLEGITIMIZATIONLEPIDOPTERISTSLETTERSPACINGSLEUKEMOGENESESLEUKEMOGENESISLEUKODYSTROPHYLEXICALISATIONLEXICALIZATIONLEXICOGRAPHERSLEXICOGRAPHIESLIBERALIZATIONLIBERATIONISTSLIBERTARIANISMLIBIDINOUSNESSLIBRARIANSHIPSLICENTIOUSNESSLICHENOLOGICALLICHENOLOGISTSLIEBFRAUMILCHSLIFELESSNESSESLIFELIKENESSESLIGHTHEARTEDLYLIGNIFICATIONSLIGNOCELLULOSELIGNOSULFONATELINEARIZATIONSLINGUISTICALLYLINGUISTICIANSLISTLESSNESSESLITERALIZATIONLITERARINESSESLITERATENESSESLITHIFICATIONSLITHOLOGICALLYLITURGIOLOGIESLITURGIOLOGISTLIVERISHNESSESLOCALIZABILITYLOGNORMALITIESLONESOMENESSESLONGHEADEDNESSLONGITUDINALLYLONGSOMENESSESLOPSIDEDNESSESLOQUACIOUSNESSLOVELESSNESSESLOVELORNNESSESLOVESICKNESSESLUBBERLINESSESLUGUBRIOUSNESSLUKEWARMNESSESLUMINOUSNESSESLUSCIOUSNESSESLUSTROUSNESSESLUTEINIZATIONSLYMPHANGIOGRAMLYMPHOGRAPHIESLYMPHOSARCOMASLYOPHILIZATIONLYSOGENICITIESLYSOGENIZATION
Fifteen-Letter Words (45)
LABORIOUSNESSESLABYRINTHODONTSLACKADAISICALLYLARYNGECTOMIZEDLATENSIFICATIONLATERALIZATIONSLATITUDINARIANSLAUGHABLENESSESLECHEROUSNESSESLEGISLATORSHIPSLEGITIMIZATIONSLEISURELINESSESLEPIDOPTEROLOGYLEUKAEMOGENESESLEUKAEMOGENESISLEVELHEADEDNESSLEXICALISATIONSLEXICALIZATIONSLEXICOGRAPHICALLIBERALIZATIONSLIBERTARIANISMSLICKERISHNESSESLIGHTFASTNESSESLIGHTSOMENESSESLIGNOCELLULOSESLIGNOCELLULOSICLIGNOSULFONATESLIMITLESSNESSESLITERALIZATIONSLITIGIOUSNESSESLITURGIOLOGISTSLOATHSOMENESSESLOGARITHMICALLYLOGOGRAPHICALLYLONGSIGHTEDNESSLUCRATIVENESSESLUDICROUSNESSESLUXURIOUSNESSESLYMPHADENITISESLYMPHADENOPATHYLYMPHANGIOGRAMSLYMPHOGRANULOMALYMPHOSARCOMATALYOPHILIZATIONSLYSOGENIZATIONS