If you want to practice as you read, you can open Wordle Unlimited in another tab and try each step on a live board.
What Is Wordle in One Sentence?
Wordle is a word-guessing puzzle where you have six attempts to figure out a hidden five-letter word, using color clues after every guess to tell you which letters are right, which are in the wrong spot, and which are not in the word at all.
That's the whole game. Everything below is just how to use those clues well.
How to Play Wordle: Step-by-Step
Here is the full flow of a single round, start to finish.
Step 1: Type a real five-letter word
Click any cell in the top row and type any valid five-letter English word, then press Enter. Random letters like QXZPM will not be accepted; the game only takes real dictionary words. Many players open with words such as CRANE, SLATE, ADIEU, or AUDIO because they test common vowels and consonants at the same time.
Not sure which opener to pick? Our best Wordle starting words guide breaks down the data behind the strongest first guesses.
Step 2: Read the color clues
The moment you hit Enter, each of your five tiles flips to one of three colors. Those colors are the only feedback you get, so learning to read them is the real skill in Wordle.
Green means the letter is in the word and in the correct position. Lock it in and keep it in that same slot for every future guess.
Yellow means the letter is in the word but you placed it in the wrong spot. Move it to a different position on your next try.
Gray means the letter is not in the answer at all. Avoid using it again.
Step 3: Make a smarter second guess
Use what the colors told you. Keep every green letter in place, move every yellow letter somewhere new, and throw out every gray letter. Try to add fresh high-value letters so each guess earns new information instead of repeating what you already know.
Step 4: Repeat until you solve it or run out of tries
You have six rows in total. Each guess narrows the possibilities until, with any luck, the answer snaps into place. Solve it in any row and the board celebrates. Miss on all six and the hidden word is revealed at the bottom.
An Example Round, Tile by Tile
Suppose the hidden answer is FROST and you open with CRANE.
CRANE returns gray C, yellow R, gray A, gray N, gray E. You now know the answer contains an R, but not in slot 2, and has no C, A, N, or E.
Your second guess, FROWN, returns green F, green R, green O, gray W, gray N. Three letters locked in, two slots left to figure out.
Your third guess, FROST, is all green. Solved in three.
That is the loop. Guess, read, refine, repeat.
What the Rules Actually Say
A few small rules trip up new players, so it is worth stating them clearly.
- Every guess must be a real five-letter word in the game's dictionary.
- Letters can repeat in the answer. Words like SPEED, LEVEL, MAMMA, or ALLOW are fair game, and the tile colors reflect each occurrence.
- The game does not confirm when a letter appears twice. If the answer has two Es and you only guess one, that E will light up, but you will not be told there is a second one hiding.
- Capitalization does not matter. The board shows everything in uppercase.
Tips and Strategy to Win Wordle More Often
Once you understand how to play Wordle, a few habits separate casual players from consistent winners.
- Open with a vowel-heavy word. Starters like ADIEU, AUDIO, ARISE, SLATE, or CRANE check several of the most common letters at once.
- Spend guess two on brand-new letters instead of rearranging what you already know. Burn through consonants like S, T, R, N, L, and D early.
- Treat yellow tiles as two clues. A yellow letter is in the word AND it is not in that slot. Always move it.
- Watch for double letters once you have narrowed things down. They are the single biggest reason players run out of guesses.
- Pause before your last two tries. With four solid rows of clues, there are usually only a handful of possible answers. Read the board carefully before typing.
Stuck on a specific puzzle? The Wordle Solver will narrow the possibilities down based on the letters you already have.
Hard Mode, if You Want a Tougher Game
Hard Mode is a toggle in the settings menu. When it is on, any clue you have uncovered must be used in your next guesses. Green letters have to stay in the same slot, and yellow letters have to appear somewhere in every following word. It removes the option to burn a guess purely for information, so you cannot play "throwaway" words to test letters. Experienced players use it to keep the game fresh after they have mastered the basic version.
Where to Keep Practicing
The classic once-a-day puzzle is a nice ritual, but it only gives you one chance to practice per 24 hours. If you want to drill the strategy above, you can play as many rounds as you like on Wordle Unlimited, with the same rules and the same color feedback.
Looking for something a little different? Try a few of our variations:
- Quordle for solving four words at once.
- Cowordle for a head-to-head match with a friend.
- Phoodle for a food-themed twist on the classic.
- Wordle for Kids for an easier version with shorter, age-appropriate words.
Need inspiration for guesses? Browse our full list of 5-letter words to see what fits the clues on your board.
Conclusion
Learning how to play Wordle takes about one round. Mastering it takes a few weeks of noticing patterns, picking smarter opening words, and reading each color clue for everything it tells you. Stick to the rules above, keep your first two guesses rich in common letters, and respect the yellow tiles, and you will solve far more puzzles in three or four tries instead of scraping by on six. When you are ready, open a fresh board on Wordle Unlimited and put it into practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play Wordle for the first time?
Open the game, type any real five-letter word, and press Enter. The tiles will turn green, yellow, or gray to tell you which letters are correct, which are in the wrong spot, and which are not in the word. Use that feedback to make a better next guess, and keep going until you solve the word or run out of your six tries.
How many guesses do you get in Wordle?
You get six guesses per puzzle. Every guess has to be a real five-letter word, and each one gives you color clues that help you narrow down the answer.
What do the colors mean in Wordle?
Green means the letter is in the word and in the correct position. Yellow means the letter is in the word but somewhere else. Gray means the letter is not in the word at all.
What is the best word to start Wordle with?
A strong opener uses common letters and several vowels. Popular picks include CRANE, SLATE, ADIEU, AUDIO, and ARISE. There is no single "correct" starter, the goal is to test as many high-frequency letters as possible on your first guess.
Can a letter appear twice in the Wordle answer?
Yes. The hidden word can contain repeated letters. Words such as LEVEL, SPEED, MAMMA, and ALLOW are fair game, and the tile colors will reflect each occurrence of the letter.
What happens if I cannot solve the Wordle in six tries?
The game ends and the hidden word is revealed. On the daily version you have to wait 24 hours for a new puzzle, but on Wordle Unlimited you can start a fresh word straight away.
Is Wordle free to play?
Yes. The classic Wordle on The New York Times site is free, and so is Wordle Unlimited. There is no sign-up, no download, and no limit on how many rounds you can play back-to-back.