Let's talk about something that's bugged me since I started playing Wordle back in 2021. Remember those days when you'd just throw any old word at the puzzle? AUDIO? CRANE? STARE? Yeah, I did that too. But after solving over 500 Wordle puzzles (yes, I counted), I've realized picking the right first word isn't just helpful - it's everything. Your opening move sets the entire trajectory of the game.
Finding truly good words to start Wordle with feels like cracking a secret code sometimes. I've wasted so many guesses on dud starters that gave me zero useful information.
The difference between a strategic opener and a random guess? That's often the difference between solving in three tries versus six.
What Actually Makes a Wordle Starter Word Good?
Spoiler alert: It's not about finding some magical unicorn word. A quality starter checks three boxes:
- Common letters – We're talking E, A, R, O, T, L, I, S, N (these appear in over 60% of English words)
- Balanced vowels – At least two vowels, preferably different ones
- Zero repeats – Why waste letter slots on duplicates?
But here's what most guides won't tell you – position matters as much as letter choice. For example, S works great at word beginnings but rarely ends words. E? Total opposite. I learned this painfully when I used "QUEUE" as a starter for weeks before realizing those repeated U's were sabotaging me.
Pro Tip: Avoid starters with J, Q, X or Z unless you enjoy pain. Those letters appear in less than 1% of Wordle answers.
The Science Behind Letter Frequency
MIT did this fascinating analysis of Wordle answers. Turns out these letters dominate:
| Letter | Frequency in Answers | Best Position |
|---|---|---|
| S | 46% | Beginning |
| E | 56% | End |
| A | 43% | Middle |
| R | 39% | Middle |
| O | 36% | Middle |
| I | 34% | Middle |
| L | 32% | Beginning/Middle |
| T | 31% | Beginning/End |
Notice anything? The classic vowels (A, E, I, O) plus R, S, T, L, N make up the dream team. That's why "SLATE" works so well - it hits five of these power players.
The Ultimate Starting Words Ranked
After testing hundreds of starters across months (and tracking results in a spreadsheet, because I'm that person), here's my battlefield-tested ranking:
| Word | Letters Covered | Avg. Guesses | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLATE | S,L,A,T,E | 3.7 | Best overall |
| CRANE | C,R,A,N,E | 3.9 | Top contender |
| ROAST | R,O,A,S,T | 4.1 | Great vowel coverage |
| ADIEU | A,D,I,E,U | 4.3 | Vowels only - risky |
| PIOUS | P,I,O,U,S | 4.5 | Good but U is weak |
| ZESTY | Z,E,S,T,Y | 5.2 | Avoid - Z too rare |
My personal journey with "ADIEU" was... educational. Sure, it reveals vowels fast. But when you get three greens and still have twenty possibilities? Yeah, not fun. I switched to "SLATE" last November and haven't looked back.
The truth? No single starter works perfectly every day. But some work better most days.
Specialized Openers for Different Play Styles
Not everyone approaches Wordle the same way. Here's how your personality affects starter choice:
The Vowel Hunter Strategy
If you love playing it safe:
- ADIEU (4 vowels! But weak consonants)
- AUDIO (Same issue)
- OUIJA (Spooky but effective)
The plus side? You'll rarely have vowel shortages. The downside? Might need 3-4 guesses to pin down consonants.
The Consonant Crusher Approach
My engineer friend swears by:
- CRWTH (Yes it's a real word! Ancient instrument)
- NYMPH (No vowels at all!)
- TRYST (Brutal consonants)
Extreme? Absolutely. Fun when they work? Unbelievably. Practical? Not really.
Balanced Openers That Just Work
For most humans:
- SLATE - My daily driver
- CRANE - Popular for good reason
- ROAST - Underrated gem
- LEAST - Similar to SLATE
These give you vowel/consonant balance while hitting common letters. Since switching to SLATE, my average solve dropped from 4.4 to 3.8 guesses.
The "Two Word" Controversy
Some argue using two words immediately is smarter. Let's compare:
| Strategy | Pros | Cons | My Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single starter word | Deep information on specific letters | Slower coverage | More consistent results |
| Two-word combo | Casts wider net initially | Wastes potential guesses | Feels chaotic |
Popular pairs like "CRANE + SPOIL" cover 10 letters fast. But I've found committing fully to one strong starter like SLATE yields better long-term results. Your mileage may vary.
Advanced Techniques for Wordle Veterans
Once you've mastered basic starters, level up with these:
The Positional Awareness Method
Track where letters appear:
- S appears first 40% of the time
- E appears last 25% of the time
- Y appears last 15% of the time
This changes starter value. "STARE" becomes stronger than "ARISE" because ST- beginnings are more common than AR-.
Elimination Power Scores
I rate starters by their eliminating power:
| Word | % of Alphabet Covered | Common Letter Score |
|---|---|---|
| SLATE | 19% | 97/100 |
| CRANE | 19% | 95/100 |
| POUND | 19% | 82/100 |
Notice how POUND has identical coverage but weaker because P, O, U, N, D include less common letters.
Mistakes to Avoid with Starting Words
I've made every error in the book:
- Repeating letters - Like using "SASSY" (double S disaster)
- Obscure words - "XYLYL" might be valid but helps no one
- Over-indexing on vowels - Leads to consonant chaos later
- Starting with yesterday's answer - Wordle almost never repeats
The worst? When I used "QUEEN" for two weeks straight. Those double E's gave me false confidence while hiding critical consonant gaps.
Your Wordle Starter FAQ
Should I use the same starter every day?
There's debate here. I stick with SLATE consistently because knowing its patterns helps me interpret results faster. But rotating between 2-3 strong options (like SLATE/CRANE/ROAST) keeps things fresh.
Are vowel-heavy starters better?
Not necessarily. While ADIEU covers four vowels, it ignores crucial consonants. Balanced starters like SLATE give more complete information.
Can starting words be too common?
Surprisingly, yes. Words like "HELLO" appear so often in puzzles that they're poor starters - you want words that rarely appear as solutions but test common letters.
What about two-word combos?
If you insist on two starters, make them complementary like "CRANE + SPOIL". This covers 10 distinct letters. But personally, I think it's overkill.
Do letter positions affect starter choice?
Massively! "STARE" tests S in position 1 and E in position 5 - both high-frequency spots. Whereas "ARISE" tests A in position 1 (less common) and E in position 5 (strong).
Putting It All Together
At the end of the day, the hunt for the best good words to start Wordle is personal. What works for me (SLATE) might frustrate you. After trying options from this guide:
- Track your solve averages with different starters
- Notice which letters constantly trip you up
- Adjust based on your mental patterns
The magic happens when you find a starter that clicks with your brain. For my wife, it's "OCEAN". For me, it's "SLATE". Neither is objectively "best" - both are objectively effective.
Your perfect starter exists. It's waiting in the letters.
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