How to play Wordle? Step-by-step rules, tips & strategies

Wordle is a daily online word puzzle where you have six tries to guess a hidden five-letter word, using color-coded feedback to guide each guess.

## What Is Wordle?

Wordle is a browser-based word game in which players try to guess a secret five-letter word within six attempts. Each guess must be a valid English word. After each guess, the game provides feedback using colors: green for the correct letter in the correct position, yellow for a correct letter in the wrong position, and gray for a letter not in the word at all. You can play Wordle once per day, and the word is the same for all players on that day.

## How to Play Wordle

### Starting the Game

- Visit the official Wordle website.

- You will see a 5x6 grid, representing the five-letter word and your six guesses.

- Enter your first five-letter word guess and press Enter.

### Understanding the Feedback

- After submitting a guess, the colors of the tiles will change:

  - Green: The letter is in the correct position.

  - Yellow: The letter is in the word but in a different position.

  - Gray: The letter is not in the word at all.

### Making Subsequent Guesses

- Use the feedback from previous guesses to inform your next word.

- Each guess must be a valid five-letter English word.

- You have up to six attempts to guess the correct word.

### Winning and Losing

- If you guess the word within six tries, you win.

- If you do not guess the word in six tries, the correct answer is revealed, and you can try again the next day.

## Best Strategies for Playing Wordle

### Choose a Strong Starting Word

- Use a word that contains at least two vowels and several common consonants.

- Examples of effective starting words include STARE, CRANE, ADIEU, and SOARE.

- Starting with words that use common letters increases your chances of getting useful feedback early.

### Play Vowels and Common Consonants Early

- E, A, O, I, and U are the most common vowels in English.

- R, T, L, S, and N are frequent consonants.

- Using these letters in your first two guesses helps reveal the structure of the word.

### Use the Process of Elimination

- After each guess, avoid repeating gray letters.

- Focus on rearranging yellow letters and keeping green letters in their positions.

- Try new combinations to maximize the information gained from each attempt.

### Think About Letter Combinations and Patterns

- Certain letter pairs, like CH, ST, and ER, are common in English.

- S is often the starting letter, and E is a frequent ending letter.

- If you have yellow letters, try placing them together or in new positions.

### Take Your Time

- There is no time limit, so consider each guess carefully.

- Double-check your guesses before submitting to avoid repeating mistakes.

- If you are stuck, take a break and return with a fresh perspective.

## Tips to Improve Your Wordle Score

### Use Common Letter Combinations

- Guess words that include frequent letter pairs and triplets.

- This increases your odds of hitting correct letters and positions.

### Look for Patterns

- If you find a letter in the correct spot, try similar words with that letter in the same position.

- Use your knowledge of English word structures to predict possible solutions.

### Use Word Lists and Tools

- If you are stuck, consult lists of five-letter words or use online resources to brainstorm possibilities.

- Avoid using previous Wordle answers, as the game does not repeat them.

### Try "Burner" Words

- A burner word is a guess that uses as many new letters as possible, even if it is unlikely to be the answer.

- This strategy helps you quickly eliminate or confirm multiple letters at once.

### Practice Pattern Recognition

- Regularly playing word games can help you recognize common and unusual letter combinations.

- This skill is useful for spotting tricky answers with repeated or rare letters.

## Wordle Game Modes and Features

### Hard Mode

- In hard mode, you must use revealed hints in subsequent guesses.

- For example, if a letter is green or yellow, it must be used in the next guess in the same or a different position, respectively.

- This mode increases the challenge and limits your ability to test new letters.

### Color Blind and Dark Modes

- Wordle offers a high-contrast color mode for color-blind players.

- A dark mode is available for those who prefer a less bright interface.

### Statistics and Streaks

- After each game, you can view your statistics, including win percentage, current streak, and guess distribution.

- Many players aim to maintain a winning streak by solving the puzzle daily.

## Common Questions About Wordle

### What Do the Colors Mean in Wordle?

- Green: Correct letter, correct position.

- Yellow: Correct letter, wrong position.

- Gray: Letter not in the word.

### What Is the Best Word to Start With?

- Words with multiple vowels and common consonants, such as STARE, CRANE, or ADIEU, are often recommended.

### Can Letters Repeat in Wordle?

- Yes, some answers contain repeated letters. Be mindful of this when making guesses.

### What Happens If I Don’t Guess the Word?

- If you do not guess the word in six tries, the correct answer is revealed, and you can try again with a new word the next day.

### Can I Play More Than Once a Day?

- The official Wordle game allows one puzzle per day. However, there are unofficial clones and similar games if you want more practice.

## Advanced Wordle Strategies

### Use Word Association

- If you have some correct letters, think of words that commonly use those letters together.

- This approach can help you quickly narrow down the possibilities.

### Guess Shorter Words

- Sometimes using a shorter word with fewer unique letters can help eliminate possibilities and build confidence.

### Avoid Previous Answers

- Wordle does not repeat answers, so checking archives of past solutions can help you avoid wasted guesses.

### Use Online Solvers Sparingly

- Online tools can suggest possible words based on your feedback, but relying on them may reduce the challenge and satisfaction of solving the puzzle yourself.

## Maintaining Your Winning Streak

### Protect Your Streak

- Focus on accuracy rather than speed to avoid careless mistakes.

- If unsure, use a burner word to test multiple letters and preserve your chances.

### Stay Consistent

- Use the same or similar starting words to develop a pattern and improve over time.

- Review your statistics to identify areas for improvement.

## Related Keywords and Concepts

- Five-letter word game

- Wordle tips and tricks

- Wordle strategies

- Wordle start words

- Wordle color meanings

- Wordle hard mode

- Wordle streak

- Wordle answer archive

- Wordle solver

- Daily word puzzle

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

**How do you play Wordle for beginners?**

Start by guessing a common five-letter word, use the color feedback to adjust your next guess, and repeat the process until you solve the word or run out of tries.

**What is a burner word in Wordle?**

A burner word is a guess used to test as many unused letters as possible, helping you quickly eliminate or confirm letters for the solution.

**Can I play Wordle on my phone?**

Yes, you can play Wordle on your phone’s browser or through the official NYT Games app.

**Are there other games like Wordle?**

Yes, there are similar games such as Quordle, Absurdle, Waffle, and Moviedle, each offering a unique twist on the word puzzle format.

**How do I improve at Wordle?**

Practice regularly, use strong starting words, focus on common letter patterns, and review your past games to refine your strategy.