Word Guess is a free 5-letter word-guessing puzzle in the style of the popular Wordle game. You have six tries to guess the hidden word, with color-coded clues after each guess.
About Word Guess
Word Guess is a logic and vocabulary puzzle that has captivated millions of players. Each game presents a hidden 5-letter word from a curated dictionary. After each guess, the game colors each letter: green means the letter is in the right spot, yellow means the letter is in the word but in the wrong spot, and gray means the letter is not in the word at all. With only six guesses, you must combine deduction, common letter frequency, and pattern recognition to crack the code. Word Guess is one of the few games where pure thinking matters more than reflexes — making it perfect for short mental breaks.
How to Play Word Guess
- Type any valid 5-letter English word as your first guess. Press Enter or tap Enter on the keyboard.
- Look at the colors of each letter: green = correct letter and position, yellow = correct letter but wrong position, gray = letter not in word.
- Use the feedback to refine your next guess. Avoid using letters marked gray.
- You have six guesses total. Use them wisely.
- Solve the word to win. If you run out of guesses, the answer is revealed.
Tips and Strategy
- Start with a word that uses 5 different common letters. Strong opening words include AROSE, ADIEU, AUDIO, RAISE, and SLATE.
- After your first guess, your second word should test 5 more new letters if possible — do not repeat letters from the first guess.
- Pay attention to common letter positions. T, S, and E rarely appear at the start of a word; consonant clusters like TR, ST, BL are usually at the start.
- If a yellow letter appears, do not guess it in the same position again. Move it to a different spot.
- Use process of elimination on consonants. After 2-3 guesses you usually know which 4-5 consonants must be in the answer.
- Common 5-letter word endings include -ED, -ER, -LY, -EN, and -OUR. If you have an E or R, test these patterns.
- If stuck, dump letters: use a guess that does not even attempt a real answer, just to test 5 unexplored letters.
History and Origin
Wordle was created in late 2020 by software engineer Josh Wardle as a private game for his partner. He released it publicly in October 2021, and within weeks it became a global phenomenon — rising from 90 daily players in November 2021 to over 300,000 players by January 2022. The New York Times acquired Wordle for a low seven-figure sum in February 2022. The format has since spawned countless variants exploring different word lengths, languages, themes, and rule sets.
Variations and Game Modes
Variants of the Wordle format include Quordle (4 words at once), Octordle (8 words), Heardle (music notes), Worldle (geography), Lewdle (rude words), and Absurdle (the answer changes adversarially). Some variants use 4-letter or 6-letter words, or non-English alphabets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Word Guess work?
Each game has a hidden 5-letter word. You type a guess and the game colors each letter: green = right letter, right spot; yellow = right letter, wrong spot; gray = letter not in the word. Use the clues to solve the word in 6 tries.
What is the best opening word?
Words that contain 5 common letters with at least 2 vowels are strong openers. Top choices include CRANE, SLATE, RAISE, ADIEU, and AROSE. The exact best depends on the dictionary, but any of these gives you significant information after one guess.
How many guesses do I have in Word Guess?
You have 6 guesses per puzzle. Each guess must be a valid 5-letter English word from our dictionary. Invalid guesses are rejected without using up an attempt.
Why is my valid-looking word rejected?
Word Guess uses a curated dictionary of common English words. Some valid words like proper nouns, very obscure terms, or plurals may not be included. Try a more common synonym or related word.
Is the answer the same for everyone?
No. Each game session generates a new random word from our list, unlike the original Wordle which has one daily word for everyone. Press New word to get a fresh puzzle.
Does Word Guess work on mobile?
Yes. The game has an on-screen keyboard and works perfectly on phones and tablets. You can also use the device keyboard if you have one connected.
What does the yellow color mean exactly?
Yellow means the letter is in the answer but you placed it in the wrong position. There is at least one of that letter in the word, just not at the spot where you guessed it.
Can the same letter appear twice in the answer?
Yes. Some words have repeated letters (like APPLE with two Ps). The color feedback handles repeats correctly: only the actual count of each letter is highlighted.