Wordle: how to play and tips for guessing the word
How Wordle works: guess the hidden five-letter word in six tries using green, yellow and grey letter hints. Rules, good starting words strategy and daily tips.
- Type
- Video game
- Players
- 1
- First released
- 2021
- Designed by
- Josh Wardle
- Publisher
- The New York Times
- Platforms
- Web
Wordle is a daily word puzzle played in a web browser. Every day there is one hidden five-letter word, the same for all players, and you have six attempts to guess it. After each guess, the letters change colour to show which are correct and in the right place, which are in the word but elsewhere, and which are not in the word at all. Wordle was created by the software engineer Josh Wardle, became a worldwide habit in late 2021 and early 2022, and was acquired by The New York Times in 2022. Because there is only one puzzle per day, players often share their results in a simple grid of coloured squares that reveals the pattern without revealing the word.
Our verdict
Wordle takes only a few minutes, which makes it a pleasant daily habit. It combines vocabulary with logic: each guess should gather as much information as possible. Sharing the coloured grid with friends or family creates a small daily conversation without spoiling the answer. It is good practice for English learners, and the limit of one puzzle a day prevents it from taking over your time. Many similar daily puzzles now exist, in many languages and with different themes.
What works
- Short daily puzzle
- Easy to share without spoilers
- Mixes vocabulary and logic
What does not
- Only one puzzle per day
- Requires good knowledge of English words
How to play Wordle
Type any valid five-letter word and submit it. Each letter of your guess is then marked. Green means the letter is in the word and in the correct position. Yellow means the letter is in the word but in a different position. Grey means the letter does not appear in the word, or does not appear again if it was already matched. Use these hints to choose your next guess. A word may contain the same letter more than once, and the colours handle repeated letters one at a time. You win when all five letters are green. If you have not found the word after six guesses, the answer is shown. In hard mode, any letter revealed as green or yellow must be used in every later guess. A new word appears each day, so everyone faces the same puzzle.
Tips for new players
- Start with a word that contains several common vowels and consonants.
- Use your second guess to test new letters instead of repeating known ones.
- Remember that letters can repeat in the answer.
- If several words remain, choose a guess that rules out the most options.
Good for
Wordle: common questions
What do the colours mean in Wordle?
Green means the right letter in the right place, yellow means the letter is in the word but in another place, and grey means it is not in the word.
How many guesses do you get in Wordle?
You have six guesses to find the five-letter word.
Who created Wordle?
Wordle was created by Josh Wardle. The New York Times acquired it in 2022.
Wordle belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
