If you've seen friends posting colorful green and yellow tile grids on social media and wondered what it's all about, you've come to the right place. Wordle is one of the most popular word puzzle games in the world, simple enough to learn in minutes, challenging enough to think about all day. Here's everything you need to know to play your very first game.
What Is Wordle?
Wordle is a word guessing game where you try to identify a hidden five-letter word in six attempts. After each guess, the game gives you color-coded feedback that tells you how close you are. The challenge is to use that feedback logically to narrow down the answer before you run out of guesses.
The game is played entirely in your browser, no app download needed. Visit WordleDay.org to play instantly on any device.
The Basic Rules of Wordle
- You must guess a valid five-letter word on each turn
- You have six attempts to find the correct word
- After each guess, tiles change color to show how close your guess was
- The word you're guessing must be in the game's dictionary (you'll see "Word not found" otherwise)
- You win by guessing the exact word; you lose if you use all six guesses without finding it
Understanding the Color System
The color feedback after each guess is the heart of Wordle. Learning to read it correctly is essential:
Green Tile, Correct Letter, Correct Position
A green tile means that letter is in the secret word AND is in exactly the right position. Green letters are confirmed, always include them in your future guesses in the same position.
Yellow Tile, Right Letter, Wrong Position
A yellow tile means that letter exists in the secret word, but you placed it in the wrong position. Move it to a different position in your next guess, don't drop it.
Gray Tile, Letter Not in the Word
A gray tile means that letter does not appear anywhere in the secret word. Avoid using gray letters in future guesses, they give you nothing and waste guesses.
Step-by-Step: Your First Wordle Game
Step 1: Make Your First Guess
Type any five-letter word using your keyboard (or the on-screen keyboard on mobile) and press Enter. A good first word is one that contains common letters, try CRANE, SLATE, or RAISE.
For your first game, try typing CRANE. It contains five of the most common letters in five-letter English words and will give you lots of useful feedback regardless of what the answer is.
Step 2: Read the Colors
After pressing Enter, the tiles flip to reveal their colors. Take a moment to understand what each color tells you before your next guess:
- Lock in any green letters, they're confirmed correct
- Note yellow letters and where they should NOT go
- Mentally cross out any gray letters from your alphabet
Step 3: Make Your Second Guess
Use what you've learned to make a smarter second guess. Include all yellow letters (in new positions), keep green letters where they are, and avoid gray letters entirely.
Step 4: Keep Narrowing It Down
Each guess should give you new information or confirm what you already know. Experienced players often solve the puzzle in 3-4 guesses by systematically eliminating impossible words.
Step 5: Go for the Answer
Once you have enough confirmed letters, think about common words that fit the pattern. Try to commit to a guess that could actually be the answer, rather than guessing just to gather more info.
The On-Screen Keyboard
Below the game grid, you'll see a keyboard that gets colored as you play. It mirrors the color feedback of your guesses:
- Green keys: That letter is confirmed in the correct position
- Yellow keys: That letter exists in the word but needs repositioning
- Gray keys: That letter is not in the word
- White/default keys: That letter hasn't been guessed yet
You can use the on-screen keyboard by clicking or tapping letters, or just type with your physical keyboard.
What Happens When You Win (or Lose)?
When You Win
If you guess the correct word, the tiles animate with a satisfying flourish and a win message appears. Your statistics update, win count, current streak, and guess distribution. You can then share your result as colored tile emojis (spoiler-free!) to social media.
When You Lose
If you use all six guesses without finding the word, the correct answer is revealed. Your streak resets to zero, but your win percentage and all other stats are preserved. Take note of the answer and think about where your logic went wrong, that reflection is what makes you a better player over time.
Wordle Settings You Should Know
| Setting | What It Does | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|
| Hard Mode | Revealed hints must be used in all subsequent guesses | Experienced players seeking more challenge |
| Dark Mode | Switches to a dark background theme | Night-time players; anyone who prefers dark UIs |
| Color-Blind Mode | Replaces green/yellow with orange/blue for accessibility | Players with red-green color vision deficiency |
| Word Length | Change from 4 to 11 letters | Players who want more or less challenge |
Wordle Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules
Wordle has developed a social culture with a few unspoken rules that most players follow:
- No spoilers: When sharing your result, use the emoji tile grid (not the actual word). This lets everyone enjoy the puzzle without being told the answer.
- Personal honesty: Your streak and statistics are only meaningful if you play honestly. Using a solver for every puzzle technically works but defeats the purpose.
- One device rule: Some players choose to play on only one device to maintain accurate statistics. Playing on multiple devices can create inconsistencies in streak tracking.
Wordle for Kids
Wordle is suitable for players of all ages. WordleDay has a special Wordle for Kids edition that uses vocabulary appropriate for children up to 8th grade, with the option to use shorter word lengths (starting from 3 letters). It's a great educational game for building vocabulary and logical thinking skills.
Start with the daily puzzle or practice with unlimited games. WordleDay offers 4 to 11-letter Wordle with no daily limit.
Play Wordle Now →Frequently Asked Questions for New Players
Is Wordle free to play?
Yes, Wordle on WordleDay is completely free. There's no sign-up, no account needed, and no download required. Just open the website and start playing.
Do I need to download an app?
No download is needed. Wordle runs entirely in your web browser on any device, desktop, tablet, or smartphone. You can optionally install it as a web app for offline play.
What if the word I typed isn't accepted?
If you see a "Word not found" message, the word you entered isn't in WordleDay's dictionary. Try a different word, and note that names, abbreviations, and very rare words are typically not in the valid word list.
Can I play Wordle in languages other than English?
Yes! WordleDay supports 17 languages including Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, and more. Check out our guide to playing Wordle in different languages.
How is Wordle different from regular crosswords or word searches?
Wordle doesn't give you any clue about the word's meaning, only feedback about its letters. Unlike crosswords (which give definitions) or word searches (which give you all the letters), Wordle requires you to deduce the mystery word purely through logical elimination. It's more like a code-breaking game than a traditional word puzzle.