Wordle is a word puzzle game that challenges players to guess a five-letter word in six attempts.
Whether you’re a seasoned Wordle player or new to the game, this guide will help you master the art of solving Wordle puzzles efficiently and effectively. We’ll cover the best strategies, tips, and starting words to give you an edge in your daily word challenge.
If you find yourself needing a little extra help, check out our daily Wordle answers.
Wordle Strategies
Start with a strategic first word
Choose a word containing popular letters (e.g., CRATE or SLATE) to either confirm or eliminate some of the most frequent letters in the English language. You can also begin with a word that has several vowels (e.g., ADIEU or AUDIO). More on this in the section below.
Focus on common consonants
After trying out popular vowels and using your starting word or words, shift your focus to common consonants such as R, L, S, N, and M. This can help you maximize your chances of success with your guesses.
Use the process of elimination
After your first guess, try a word containing completely different letters to narrow down possibilities quickly. This can help you identify the correct letters and their positions more efficiently.
Take your time
Remember that you have the entire day (from midnight in your local timezone) to solve a Wordle puzzle. Spend a few minutes analyzing your options and strategizing your next moves after you’ve identified some correct letters.
Don’t forget about repeating letters
Words in Wordle puzzles may contain the same letter more than once (e.g., BANAL or ABBEY). When coming up with your guesses, consider the possibility of repeated letters.
Keep an eye on less popular letters
While focusing on popular letters is a good strategy, don’t completely disregard less common letters like Q, Z, and X. They might still appear in the solution.
Utilize clues from previous guesses
Always use the information from your previous guesses to inform your next attempt. Focus on placing the correct letters in their proper positions and identifying new letters to try.
Best Wordle Starting Words
Choosing the right Wordle starting word can make a big difference in your chances of solving the puzzle. Here are some of the most effective strategies for selecting the best starting words:
Top 5 starting words
- SLATE
- TRACE
- CRATE
- RAISE
- ADIEU
These top five starting words are derived from a combination of mathematical analysis, common letter frequency, and vowel-heavy words. They are designed to give you an edge in solving the Wordle puzzle by eliminating a significant number of possibilities with each guess.
Vowel-heavy words
One of the most common strategies is to start with vowel-heavy words. This is because vowels are the building blocks of most words, and focusing on them helps to eliminate a significant number of possibilities. Some recommended starting words include ADIEU, AUDIO, and OUIJA, which cover four vowels.
Most common letters
Another strategy is to choose words that include the most common vowels and consonants. For example, the word RAISE covers the three most common vowels (A, E, and I) and the two most common consonants (R and S). This helps to further narrow down the list of potential answers.
Math and information theory
Mathematician and computer scientist Grant Sanderson (3Blue1Brown on YouTube) has analyzed Wordle using information theory and mathematical concepts.
Based on his analysis, the ideal starting word is either one of SLATE, TRACE, or CRATE.
The RATIO-MENDS-LUCKY / SCALY-GUIDE-THORN strategy
Some players prefer a three-word starting strategy to narrow down the list of possible letters in the solution. One such strategy is to start with RATIO, followed by MENDS, and then LUCKY.
Alternatively, you can use SCALY, GUIDE, and THORN.
Both approaches cast a wide net alphabetically with the first three guesses, making it easier to figure out the solution with the remaining attempts.
Additional Tips and Tricks
Consistency is key
Using the same starting word for every puzzle, such as CRATE or SLATE, can provide consistency. This strategy allows you to become familiar with a set of outcomes, making it easier to predict and adjust in subsequent games.
Mind the spellings
Wordle uses American English spellings. For players outside the US, it’s essential to remember this as it could affect the solution (e.g., favor vs. favour).
Most common letters
To solve Wordle as efficiently as possible, try words that include the letters e, t, a, i, o, n, s, h, and r; these are the most common letters in English. Another great trick is to begin with words that start with the letters t, a, o, d, and w; as again, these are the most common starting letters in English.
Wordle word finder
Using a Wordle word finder like ours can massively improve your game scores and help you enjoy Wordle even more. If you need more five-letter words or want to sort through words with specific letters, our Wordle word finder can be a valuable tool.
Practice makes perfect
Engaging in other word games or Wordle variants can sharpen your vocabulary and strategic thinking, further enhancing your Wordle performance.
