Not necessarily words, but here are some good essay starters I use often (also, it depends on what kind of essay you are writing):
- asking a question. sometimes, it's best to avoid words like "you" and "i" in an essay, but asking the audience/reader is a great way to start a essay, like "Is it possible that..." or "Have you ever wondered..."
- you could define a word. For example, if the essay were a personal narrative, it would be like defining a word straight from the dictionary, then you could provide your own definition of the word. I've seen this method used a lot :)
- for maybe an argument essay, you should start with your claim, by stating what side you're on.
I know this wasn't super direct, like what exact words you should use to start an essay, but I hope you've got some ideas of how to start your essay!!