Best Wordle Starting Words: A Complete Analysis
Your first guess in Wordle is the most important one. Here's a scientific analysis of the best starting words.
What Makes a Great Starting Word?
- Contains common vowels (A, E, I, O, U)
- Includes high-frequency consonants (R, S, T, L, N, C)
- No repeated letters
The Top 10 Best Starting Words
1. CRANE
Contains C, R, A, N, E — five of the six most common letters. No repeats.
2. SLATE
Combines S, L, A, T, and E.
3. AUDIO
Contains four vowels (A, U, I, O).
4. ADIEU
Contains A, I, E, U — four of five vowels.
5. RAISE
Combines R, A, I, S, and E.
6. AROSE
Contains A, R, O, S, and E.
7. STARE
Uses S, T, A, R, and E.
8. LUCKY
L, U, C, K, Y.
9. MOIST
Covers M, O, I, S, T.
10. SOARE
Contains S, O, A, R, E.
Letter Frequency Analysis
| Rank | Letter | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | 12.7% |
| 2 | T | 9.1% |
| 3 | A | 8.2% |
| 4 | O | 7.5% |
| 5 | I | 7.0% |
What to Avoid
- Repeated letters (APPLE, EERIE)
- Obscure words (AALII, CWM)
- Rare letters (Z, Q, X, J)
Frequently Asked Questions
Single best starting word?
CRANE. SLATE and RAISE are close seconds.
Try a top starter in today's puzzle!