Free Wordle Tool
Wordle Starting Word Analyzer
Find your perfect Wordle opener. Enter any 5-letter word to see how it scores based on letter frequency, position data, and coverage analysis from thousands of past Wordle answers.
Analyze Your Starting Word
Enter any 5-letter word to see how it scores as a Wordle opener
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Most Common Letters in Wordle
The Science Behind Wordle Starting Words
Not all starting words are created equal. Our analyzer evaluates words using real data from Wordle answer history. Here's what makes a great opener:
Letter Frequency
Some letters appear far more often in Wordle answers. E, A, R, O, and T are the top five. Words using these letters score higher because you're more likely to hit on your first guess.
Position Accuracy
Certain letters favor specific positions. S often starts words, E often ends them. Our analyzer checks if your word's letters are in their statistically optimal positions.
Unique Letters
Words with 5 unique letters test more of the alphabet. CRANE beats CREED because it checks 5 letters instead of 4, giving you more information per guess.
Vowel Balance
The ideal starting word has 2-3 vowels. Too few vowels and you miss critical information. Too many (like AUDIO) limits consonant coverage but can be useful for vowel hunting.
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FAQ
Wordle Starting Word FAQ
Common questions about choosing the best Wordle starting word.
- Based on letter frequency analysis, CRANE is often cited as one of the best starting words. It was recommended by NYT's WordleBot. Other top choices include SLATE, CRATE, TRACE, and RAISE. The ideal starter uses common letters (E, A, R, T, O, L, I, S, N) and has no duplicate letters.
- Our analyzer scores words based on four factors: Letter Frequency (how often each letter appears in Wordle answers), Position Accuracy (how often letters appear in specific positions), Unique Letters (avoiding duplicates for maximum coverage), and Vowel Balance (optimal mix of vowels and consonants).
- Using a consistent starting word is a valid strategy, especially one optimized for letter coverage like CRANE or SLATE. This builds pattern recognition over time. However, some players prefer variety. Either approach can lead to success - consistency helps with data gathering while variety keeps the game fresh.
- These are the most common letters in Wordle answers. E appears in about 1,233 of ~2,300 answers, A in 979, R in 899, T in 729, and S in 669. Starting with these letters maximizes your chances of getting green or yellow tiles on your first guess.
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