15 Best 5 Letter Words Starting With SOU (With Meanings for Word Games)

If you’ve ever sat staring at a Wordle board or a crossword clue that begins with SOU, you know the struggle. Your brain freezes, the clock ticks, and suddenly even simple words slip away. That’s exactly why lists like this exist.
I’ve put together 15 five-letter words that start with SOU, complete with meanings. Some are common, some are rare, but all of them can help you crack puzzles faster—and maybe even learn something new along the way.
Word List
Word | Meaning |
---|---|
Sound | A noise; also used to describe something solid or reliable. |
South | The direction opposite north. |
Souls | The spiritual or immaterial essence of people. |
Soups | A dish made by boiling vegetables, meat, or both. |
Soupy | Thick and stew-like; also overly sentimental. |
Sours | To spoil, ferment, or turn unpleasant. |
Souse | To soak or drench; slang for a drunk person. |
Sough | A soft rustling or murmuring sound, usually from wind. |
Souks | Markets found in Middle Eastern cities. |
Soums | Currency used in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. |
Souts | A rare entry you might only spot in word lists. |
Souly | Old-fashioned form of “solely” or “only.” |
Souce | Rare, historical word found in some dictionaries. |
Souct | Obscure and almost unused outside word games. |
Soule | An older spelling variation of “soul.” |
Why Bother With This List?
Think about it: if your Wordle guess begins with SOU, you don’t want to waste turns throwing random letters at the screen. Having a small bank of possibilities like sound, south, or soupy gives you a head start.
Scrabble players also get an edge. Words such as sough or soums aren’t common in everyday conversation, but they’re legal plays that can score big. And if you enjoy crosswords, you’ll save yourself a lot of time flipping through dictionaries.
Final Takeaway
Five-letter words starting with SOU may not be the largest group, but they’re surprisingly handy once you know them. Keep this list nearby—you might be surprised how often these words pop up in puzzles. Next time you’re stuck, you’ll be ready.