Best Starting Words for Wordle

Wordle is a game where every move counts and every word matters. You need a strategic approach that can make all the difference between winning and losing. While players adhere to different rules—whether it’s one rerack per game, no reracks at all, or a variety of other constraints—having a solid strategy at the start can set the tone for the entire game. 

Whether you’re aiming to regain momentum from a place of loss or looking to win game after game, knowing the optimal starting words is the way to go. 

In this article, we’ll go deep into the statistics behind Wordle to explain the best starting words for a winning edge from the get-go. For a more comprehensive guide on Wordle strategies, be sure to check out our how-to guide here, as well.

• Maple
• Blend
• Grape
• Stint
• Torch

What’s the Strategy?

These words may seem arbitrary,  but each is actually backed by a strategic approach. Let’s detail why these are the best words to start with:

Maple: This word includes a variety of frequently occurring letters like ‘M,’ ‘A,’ ‘P,’ ‘L,’ and ‘E,’ offering a good spread across the board. Moreover, ‘M’ and ‘P’ are relatively uncommon starting letters, increasing the chances of catching your opponent off guard.

Blend: Similar to ‘Maple,’ ‘Blend’ incorporates common letters like ‘B,’ ‘L,’ ‘E,’ ‘N,’ and ‘D,’ ensuring a balanced distribution across the columns. Additionally, ‘B’ is not a typical starting letter, providing an element of surprise.

Grape: With ‘G,’ ‘R,’ ‘A,’ ‘P,’ and ‘E,’ ‘Grape’ offers a favorable mix of letters, including the often-used ‘R’ and ‘P.’ This word also allows for potential early insights into the placement of vowels.

Stint: ‘Stint’ introduces less common letters like ‘S’ and ‘T’ early on while still incorporating ‘I,’ ‘N,’ and ‘T,’ which are frequently used. The inclusion of ‘S’ provides an opportunity to explore the edges of the word grid.

Torch: ‘Torch’ utilizes ‘T,’ ‘O,’ ‘R,’ ‘C,’ and ‘H,’ covering a wide range of commonly occurring letters. Starting with ‘T’ can lead to quick deductions about potential word placements.

The Frequency of Letters Based on Past Wordle Answers:

To understand why these words are optimal, let’s delve into the statistics of letter frequencies based on past Wordle answers. Based on the data listed below, we can observe that vowels such as ‘E,’ ‘A,’ and ‘O’ are among the most frequent letters across all columns. Consonants like ‘R,’ ‘S,’ and ‘T’ also appear consistently.

Frequency of Letters for Each Column:

First Column Letters:

• ‘E’: 289
• ‘A’: 177
• ‘O’: 163
• ‘S’: 134
• ‘R’: 132

Second Column Letters:

• ‘R’: 234
• ‘E’: 230
• ‘A’: 174
• ‘O’: 167
• ‘T’: 146

Third Column Letters:

• ‘E’: 231
• ‘A’: 171
• ‘I’: 160
• ‘R’: 150
• ‘O’: 148

Fourth Column Letters:

• ‘A’: 182
• ‘E’: 168
• ‘S’: 158
• ‘R’: 144
• ‘I’: 135

Fifth Column Letters:

• ‘E’: 180
• ‘R’: 157
• ‘S’: 149
• ‘T’: 145
• ‘N’: 139

Trends We Can Pull from Past Answers

Vowel Dominance: Vowels, particularly ‘E,’ ‘A,’ ‘I,’ and ‘O,’ exhibit high frequencies, indicating their prevalence in Wordle answers. This underscores the importance of including vowels in starting words to maximize the potential for matching letters early in the game.

Consonant Distribution: Consonants like ‘R,’ ‘T,’ ‘N,’ ‘S,’ and ‘D’ also occur frequently, suggesting their significance in forming words. Starting words should incorporate a balance of common consonants to facilitate the process of elimination and deduction.

Rare Letters: Letters such as ‘Q,’ ‘X,’ and ‘Z’ occur infrequently, implying their limited utility in forming words. It’s advisable to avoid starting words that heavily rely on these rare letters, as they may hinder progress in the game.

Letter Combinations: Certain letter combinations, such as ‘TH,’ ‘ST,’ ‘IN,’ and ‘ER,’ appear frequently, reflecting common patterns in the English language. Incorporating these combinations into starting words can enhance the likelihood of identifying word placements early on.

First Column Letters

• ‘E’: 289
• ‘A’: 177
• ‘O’: 163
• ‘S’: 134
• ‘R’: 132

Second Column Letters

• R’: 234
• ‘E’: 230
• ‘A’: 174
• ‘O’: 167
• ‘T’: 146

Third Column Letters

• E’: 231
• ‘A’: 171
• ‘I’: 160
• ‘R’: 150
• ‘O’: 148

Fourth Column Letters

• ‘A’: 182
• ‘E’: 168
• ‘S’: 158
• ‘R’: 144
• ‘I’: 135

Fifth Column Letters

• ‘E’: 180
• ‘R’: 157
• ‘S’: 149
• ‘T’: 145
• ‘N’: 139

Every seasoned Wordle player knows that not all words are created equal, and some should be downright approached with caution to avoid putting yourself in a tough spot early in the game. 

Here are a few strategic considerations:

• Avoid words with rare starting letters like ‘X’ or ‘Z,’ as they limit potential word placements.
• Limit the use of words with excessive repetition of uncommon letters, as they reduce flexibility in subsequent guesses.
• Avoid words that heavily rely on vowel-consonant patterns, they could lead to ambiguity in deciphering word placements.

And finally, this is what starting words you should avoid to open your game with not to put yourself in a pickle:

• Zoo
• Quiz
• Jazz
• Zebra
• Xerox
• Quick
• Zesty
• Xylophone
• Zucchini
• Queue