Word Combination Generator
Enter a list of words, one per line, and get every combination of 2 to 5 of them, with or without the different orders.
Runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to a server. Sources: Combination Updated
Combinations, arrangements and repeats: the three modes
Say you enter n words and ask for r of them in each line. Mathematics calls a choice where order does not matter a combination, and one where it does an arrangement or permutation.
| Setting | What is listed | Number of lines |
|---|---|---|
| Order does not matter, no word twice | Each group of r different words once, in the order you entered them | n! ÷ (r! × (n − r)!) |
| Every order, no word twice | Each group of r different words in every possible order | n! ÷ (n − r)! |
| Every order, a word may repeat | Every sequence of r words, including ones that use a word more than once | nr |
The sign ! is the factorial: 4! = 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24.
The two counts without repeats are linked. For 6 words taken 3 at a time there are 6 × 5 × 4 = 120 arrangements. Every group of 3 words appears in 3! = 6 of them, so there are 120 ÷ 6 = 20 combinations.
Word combination example: apple, banana, cherry
Enter three words, each on its own line: apple, banana, cherry. Leave the size at 2.
- Order does not matter, no word twice gives 3 lines: apple banana, apple cherry, banana cherry.
- Every order, no word twice gives 6 lines: apple banana, apple cherry, banana apple, banana cherry, cherry apple, cherry banana.
- Every order, a word may repeat gives 9 lines: the six above plus apple apple, banana banana and cherry cherry.
With "Join words with" set to "Nothing", the first line reads applebanana; with a hyphen it reads apple-banana.
How many combinations: the list grows fast
| Words entered | Size | Order does not matter | Every order, no repeats | Every order, repeats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 16 |
| 6 | 2 | 15 | 30 | 36 |
| 6 | 3 | 20 | 120 | 216 |
| 10 | 2 | 45 | 90 | 100 |
| 10 | 3 | 120 | 720 | 1,000 |
| 10 | 5 | 252 | 30,240 | 100,000 |
| 20 | 3 | 1,140 | 6,840 | 8,000 |
| 20 | 4 | 4,845 | 116,280 | 160,000 |
The tool writes at most 100,000 lines. The last row shows two settings that go over that limit; for those it reports the number and writes nothing.
How the word combination generator builds the list
- Lines are trimmed, empty lines are ignored, and a line that repeats an earlier one exactly is used once.
- The result follows the order of your list. It is not sorted alphabetically.
- "All sizes from 2 to 5" lists all the pairs first, then the groups of three, four and five. When no word may be used twice, sizes larger than your word count are left out.
For brainstorming names, start from a short list of strong words and join them with nothing, so each line reads as one word. The alliteration generator gives word lists for one letter, and the word generator with letters finds words that fit a set of letters. To put the result in order, paste it into the alphabetical order generator.
Word Combination Generator: FAQ
What is the difference between a combination and an arrangement?
How many lines will I get?
Why does the tool stop at 100,000 lines?
What happens to words I enter twice?
Can a line hold more than one word?
Sources
- Wikipedia: Combination — the number of ways to choose r of n items when order does not matter (checked October 16, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Permutation — arrangements, where order matters (checked October 16, 2026)