Crosswordese: The Words That Only Live in Crosswords
Crosswordese is the affectionate name for the short, vowel-heavy words that turn up in grids far more often than in everyday speech. You may never say ETUI out loud, but you’ll meet it in puzzles for the rest of your life. Memorizing a couple dozen of these is one of the quickest wins in solving — a natural follow-up to our abbreviations guide.
Why these words exist
Constructors need short answers full of common letters to lock a grid together, especially in tight corners. Words rich in vowels and friendly consonants — E, A, O, R, S, T, N — are gold for that job, so they recur constantly. It’s less about vocabulary and more about engineering the grid, which we cover in how crossword grids are built.
A starter list to memorize
- ORE — mined rock; “mineral deposit.”
- ETUI — a small case for needles or sewing tools.
- ERNE — a sea eagle.
- ESNE — an Anglo-Saxon laborer.
- OLEO — old word for margarine.
- ALOE — the soothing plant.
- ASEA — out on the water.
- EPEE — a fencing sword.
- ANO — “year,” in Spanish.
- EERIE / OREO / AERIE — perennial grid-fillers.
Spot these once and you’ll see them everywhere. Pair the habit with our speed tips, and early-week grids will fall fast. Want to see them in action? Browse today’s WSJ Crossword answers and count how many short, vowel-rich entries appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does crosswordese mean?
Crosswordese refers to short, often obscure words — ETUI, ERNE, OLEO — that appear frequently in crosswords because their letters help constructors complete the grid.
Do I need to know obscure words to solve crosswords?
Not many. A few dozen recurring short words covers most of it, and the crossings usually fill them in even when you don’t recall the definition.
