Letters and spelling

Words ending in en: a vocabulary list

Plenty of common English words end in the letters en, from simple nouns like kitten and garden to verbs like brighten and strengthen that turn an adjective into an action. This list is useful for spelling practice, phonics review, and noticing how the same ending can work differently across parts of speech.

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Words ending in en: a vocabulary list

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
happenverb	To occur or take place, especially without being planned in advance.	Nobody expected the accident to happen so suddenly during rush hour.
listenverb	To give attention to sound in order to hear and understand it.	Please listen carefully to the instructions before starting the test.
kittennoun	A young domestic cat, especially one still dependent on its mother.	The kitten chased a ball of yarn across the living room floor.
gardennoun	A piece of land used for growing flowers, vegetables, or other plants.	She spends every weekend tending carefully to her vegetable garden.
chickennoun	A common farm bird raised for its eggs and meat.	The farmer kept a dozen chickens in a coop behind the barn.
goldenadjective	Having the bright yellow color or shine of gold, or representing an excellent, especially favorable period or quality.	The fields turned golden as the wheat ripened in late summer.
brokenadjective	Damaged, shattered, or no longer working as it should.	The window was broken during the storm and needed to be replaced.
spokenadjective	Expressed or communicated by speech rather than writing.	The class focused on spoken English rather than grammar drills.
woodenadjective	Made of wood, or, figuratively, stiff and lacking natural expression or feeling.	The cabin had wooden floors that creaked with every step.
frozenadjective	Turned into or covered with ice; extremely cold, or unable to move.	The lake was completely frozen after weeks of freezing winter temperatures.
suddenadjective	Happening or done quickly and unexpectedly, without warning.	A sudden downpour sent everyone running for cover under the awning.
chosenadjective	Selected from among several possibilities, especially after careful thought.	Only the chosen few were invited backstage to meet the band.
hiddenadjective	Kept out of sight or not easily noticed or discovered.	A hidden camera recorded everything that happened in the lobby.
sharpenverb	To make something have a fine edge or point, or to make a skill or sense more effective.	He sharpened his pencil before starting the exam.
threatenverb	To express an intention to cause harm, punishment, or damage if a demand is not met.	The landlord threatened to evict the tenants if the rent stayed unpaid another month.
strengthenverb	To make or become stronger, more powerful, or more effective.	Regular exercise helped strengthen her legs after the knee injury healed.
widenverb	To make or become broader or wider.	The city plans to widen the highway to ease the daily traffic jams.
brightenverb	To make or become lighter, more colorful, or more cheerful.	Fresh paint and new curtains brightened the whole living room.
darkenverb	To make or become darker in color, light, or mood.	Storm clouds began to darken the sky over the valley.
deepenverb	To make or become deeper, either physically or in intensity.	Engineers deepened the channel so that larger ships could pass through.
flattenverb	To make something flat or level, or to knock something down completely.	The workers used a heavy roller to flatten the newly laid asphalt road.
hardenverb	To become or make something stiff, solid, or unyielding, often through cooling or exposure.	The clay will harden overnight if you leave it out in the dry air.
lengthenverb	To make something longer, or to become longer, in distance, size, or time.	The tailor agreed to lengthen the trousers by two inches.
loosenverb	To make something less tight, firm, or fixed; to release from constraint.	He loosened his tie after the long, hot ceremony finally ended.
moistenverb	To make something slightly wet, without soaking it.	Lightly moisten the cloth before wiping down the wooden furniture.
softenverb	To make or become less hard, severe, or intense.	Warm the butter to soften it before mixing it into the dough.
stiffenverb	To become or make rigid, firm, or less flexible.	Her muscles began to stiffen after the long car ride.
tightenverb	To make something firmer, tauter, or more secure, or to become stricter.	He tightened the bolts on the bicycle wheel before the long ride.
weakenverb	To make or become less strong, effective, or able to resist pressure.	The medication is designed to weaken the virus so the immune system can fight it off.
worsenverb	To become worse, or to make something become worse.	Her condition worsened overnight, so the doctors ran more tests.
kitchennoun	A room or area equipped for preparing and cooking food.	We spent the afternoon baking cookies together in my grandmother's kitchen.
oxygennoun	A colorless, odorless gas in the air that humans and animals need to breathe in order to survive.	Firefighters carried extra tanks of oxygen so they could breathe safely inside the smoke-filled building.
linennoun	A strong, light fabric made from the fibers of the flax plant, or household items made from it.	She wore a crisp linen dress that kept her cool in the summer heat.
pollennoun	A fine powder produced by flowers, carried by wind or insects, that fertilizes other plants of the same species.	Bees collect pollen from flowers as they move between blossoms.
sirennoun	A device or system that makes a loud, wailing sound as a warning or signal.	The ambulance siren grew louder as it approached the intersection.
burdennoun	A heavy load, responsibility, or source of hardship that is difficult to carry or bear.	Caring for both children and aging parents became a heavy burden for her.
childrennoun	The plural form of child; young human beings, typically below the age of legal adulthood.	The children played in the park until the sun began to set.

Verbs that end in en

Many verbs ending in en are formed by adding en to an adjective, which turns a description into an action. Widen means to make something wider, brighten means to make something brighter, and strengthen means to make something stronger. This pattern is a handy shortcut for building new verbs from words a reader already knows.

Nouns that end in en

Other words ending in en are simply nouns, with no adjective hiding inside them. Kitten, garden, kitchen, and siren all end in en but do not follow the make-it-more pattern of verbs like widen or harden. Reading these nouns alongside the verb group helps learners notice that the same ending can serve very different jobs.

Frequently asked questions

What are some common words that end in en?

Common examples include happen, listen, garden, broken, and verbs like strengthen and brighten that are formed by adding en to an adjective.