
Hint for Wordle Today: Best Sources & Strategies
Five letters, six guesses, and a grid that turns green, yellow, or gray—Wordle has become a daily ritual for millions. When your streak is on the line, a well-timed hint from sources like the New York Times, Mashable, or Newsweek can make all the difference.
Number of letters: 5 ·
Number of allowed guesses: 6 ·
Year created: 2021 ·
Acquired by New York Times: 2022 ·
Publisher: The New York Times
Quick snapshot
- Progressive clues: vowel count, first letter, last letter, meaning (Newsweek)
- Official NYT hints in daily articles (The New York Times)
- Vowel-rich words: ADIEU, AUDIO, CANOE (The New York Times)
- Analytical openers: SLATE, CRANE, TRACE (Techi)
- 5-letter daily puzzle, 6 guesses per day (NYT Wordle)
- Green, yellow, gray feedback (The New York Times)
- Vowel-less words like MYRRH (The New York Times)
- Rare letters and patterns (Newsweek)
Six key facts about the game, one pattern: the blend of simple rules and deep strategy that keeps players coming back every day.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Game Type | Daily word puzzle |
| Letters | 5 |
| Guesses | 6 |
| Owner | The New York Times |
| Created | 2021 |
| Hint Sources | NYT, Mashable, Newsweek, Forbes |
What is a good hint for Wordle?
Understanding progressive Wordle hints
A good Wordle hint doesn’t give away the answer immediately. Instead, it layers clues. According to Newsweek (popular news magazine), their daily hint format typically includes five progressive clues: vowel count, first letter, last letter, repeated letters, and a meaning-based definition. This structure lets players decide how much help they need.
Where to find reliable hints daily
- The New York Times (official Wordle publisher) publishes daily strategy articles. As the NYT notes, hints often include the number of vowels and a general theme.
- Mashable (tech and entertainment news outlet) runs a dedicated Wordle category with daily hints and answer breakdowns. Mashable recommends starting words that contain at least two distinct vowels plus common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
- Newsweek (news magazine) provides a “Wordle Today” page with hints and the answer, often adding dictionary-style definitions. Newsweek explicitly states that Wordle refreshes at midnight local time.
The best hint source depends on how much you want revealed. NYT gives the most official context, while Mashable and Newsweek offer structured clues that let you test your own deduction.
The pattern: Choosing the right source can make or break your streak.
What are the 5 words to win Wordle?
The concept of optimal starting words
One popular strategy is to use a set of five starting words that cover as many common letters as possible. According to Techi (Wordle strategy guide), the best first two guesses should avoid overlapping letters so they test ten distinct letters. The guide recommends SLATE, CRANE, TRACE, and CRATE as strong analytical openers, and AUDIO, ADIEU, and OUIJA for vowel-heavy approaches.
List of five strategic words
While no single set of five words guarantees a win, a common recommendation from players and Techi includes:
- SLATE (covers S, L, A, T, E)
- CRANE (C, R, A, N, E)
- TRACE (T, R, A, C, E)
- ADIEU (A, D, I, E, U – four vowels)
- OUIJA (O, U, I, J, A – vowel-heavy with J)
The New York Times (crossword and puzzle authority) emphasizes that strategy is personal: different players adopt different opening approaches, and ADIEU topped the list of most-used starting words among players in 2023.
Vowel-heavy words like ADIEU give you vowel information but miss common consonants. Analytical openers like SLATE balance both. The choice depends on your play style.
The implication: No single starting word works for everyone, but combining vowel-rich and consonant-heavy openers maximizes information.
What is the best 2nd word in Wordle?
Statistical analysis of second guesses
Once you see the results of your first guess, your second word should maximize information. According to Techi, the best second guess tests five brand-new letters, never reusing gray letters. This approach gives you ten distinct letters after two moves, dramatically narrowing down possible answers.
Top recommended second words
- CRANE – if your first word was vowel-heavy, this adds common consonants.
- SLATE – a balanced opener that also works well as a second guess.
- CRATE – similar to CRANE but with a T instead of N.
- SOARE – covers S, O, A, R, E; good for testing leftover vowels.
The New York Times notes that players often gravitate toward words like ARISE, SUAVE, or ADIEU as first picks, and then tailor their second word based on the feedback. The key is to avoid repeating letters that turned gray.
Reusing a gray letter wastes a guess. As Techi warns, double letters can also mislead players until they are deliberately tested.
The catch: Effective second guesses depend on first-guess results, but the principle of testing new letters remains constant.
Is MYRRH a Wordle word?
Why MYRRH is allowed despite no vowels
Yes, MYRRH is a valid Wordle answer. The word contains no standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), but the letter Y functions as a vowel in this context. The New York Times (publisher of Wordle) includes MYRRH in the official answer list. Such vowel-less words are rare but not unheard of in the game’s dictionary.
List of other vowel-less Wordle words
- MYRRH
- LYMPH
- NYMPH
- PYGMY
- TRYST
These words rely on Y as a semi-vowel. According to Newsweek, Wordle’s clue format sometimes hints at such anomalies by noting repeated letters or unusual vowel placement.
The implication: Vowel-less words are rare, but knowing they exist can prevent panic when the grid shows no greens after the first guess.
What is the Wordle mashable?
Mashable’s Wordle coverage
Mashable has a dedicated Wordle category that publishes daily hints, answers, and strategy articles. Mashable (tech and entertainment news outlet) recommends a starting word that contains at least two distinct vowels plus common consonants such as S, T, R, or N. Their coverage goes beyond hints to include Wordle news, cultural impact, and tips for maintaining streaks.
How Mashable provides daily hints
Mashable’s daily Wordle post typically includes a small hint before revealing the answer. According to the publication, the hint often focuses on the word’s meaning or a clever clue. For example, a hint might be “a type of tree” or “a synonym for speed.” This approach gives players a nudge without spoiling the puzzle entirely.
Mashable’s Wordle section is one of the most followed third-party sources on the internet, offering a mix of entertainment and strategy that appeals to casual players and Wordle enthusiasts alike.
The pattern: Mashable’s focus on meaning-based clues complements the progressive structure of Newsweek and the official context of NYT.
How to Get the Best Hint for Wordle Today: Step by Step
- Choose your source. Decide whether you want an official NYT hint (most authoritative) or a third-party source like Mashable or Newsweek (more clue-based).
- Check the hint type. Progressive hints from Newsweek give you vowel count first, then first letter, last letter, repeated letters, and finally a definition. Use only as many steps as you need.
- Apply the hint to your game. If the hint says “two vowels,” adjust your next guess accordingly. Avoid reusing gray letters.
- Use the hint to refine your strategy. If you’re stuck, the hint can point you toward a letter pattern you hadn’t considered.
- Keep your streak alive. Once you have the answer, come back tomorrow for a new hint. Wordle resets at midnight local time (Newsweek).
The implication: Following these steps ensures you get the most out of available hints without losing the challenge.
Clarity: What We Know and What’s Still Debated
Confirmed facts
- Wordle is owned by The New York Times (NYT)
- Wordle has 5 letters and 6 guesses per day (NYT Wordle)
- MYRRH is a valid Wordle word (NYT)
What’s unclear
- The exact best second word is debated among players (Techi)
- Optimal starting word varies by personal strategy (NYT)
- Total number of words in Wordle dictionary is not publicly disclosed (NYT Wordle)
- Newsweek provides five progressive hints daily (Newsweek)
- Mashable recommends starting words with two vowels and common consonants (Mashable)
The pattern: Confirmed facts are mostly about game mechanics, while hint strategies remain open to debate.
Expert Perspectives on Wordle Hints
“A good starting word should be rich in vowels, like ARISE, SUAVE, or ADIEU. The goal is to get as much information as possible from the first guess.”
— NYT Wordle editors, The New York Times
“Your starting word should contain at least two distinct vowels and common consonants like S, T, R, or N. That gives you a solid foundation to work from.”
— Mashable Wordle writer, Mashable
“Wordle refreshes at midnight local time, so you can always start fresh. The daily reset is part of the appeal.”
— Newsweek Wordle coverage, Newsweek
For the regular Wordle player who wants to maintain a streak, the choice of hint source is clear: use the official NYT hints for authority, Mashable for a quick clue, and Newsweek for progressive reveals. The pattern across all sources is that a good hint never gives away the answer immediately – it respects the puzzle while offering a lifeline. For players in the US and beyond, the daily Wordle ritual is about balancing challenge and fun, and the right hint keeps that balance intact.
nytimes.com, nytimes.com, nwc.spar.co.za, newsweek.com, stuckonwordle.com, tomsguide.com, mashable.com
For a more detailed breakdown, you can check out the clues for puzzle #1851 from another reliable source.
Frequently asked questions
What is today’s Wordle answer?
The answer changes daily. You can find it on the NYT Wordle page or through third-party sources like Mashable and Newsweek.
How do Wordle hints work?
Hints typically provide progressive clues: vowel count, first letter, last letter, repeated letters, and a definition. You choose how many to reveal.
Why does Wordle use five letters?
Five letters is the standard length chosen by creator Josh Wardle. It’s short enough to be quick but long enough to provide variety.
Can I play past Wordle puzzles?
Officially, only the current day’s puzzle is available. However, some archives exist online, though they are not affiliated with NYT.
What happens if I miss a day?
Your streak resets, but you can still play the next day’s puzzle. Streaks are tracked by the NYT.
How often does Wordle update?
Wordle updates once per day at midnight local time.
Are Wordle hints different each day?
Yes, each day’s hint is unique to that day’s answer. The format may be similar, but the content changes.
Where can I find Wordle hint archives?
Mashable and Newsweek maintain archives of past Wordle hints and answers. NYT does not publish an official archive.
The catch: The daily reset keeps the game fresh, but missing a day means losing your streak.