New York Times Wordle of the Day: Hints, Answer & Strategy

Anyone who’s played Wordle for more than a week knows the mix of excitement and dread when the gray tiles pile up. Today’s puzzle (#1788) might seem tricky at first, but a data-driven approach can turn the odds in your favor, and we’ve combed through statistical analyses from SFI Research News and Tom’s Guide to bring you the best starting words, second-guess tactics, and today’s essential hints.

Average guesses per player: 4.1 ·
Daily active players: 1.5 million ·
Number of possible Wordle words: 2,309 ·
Common starting words analyzed: 15

Here are some quick facts about Wordle’s history and structure:

What is today’s Wordle (May 12, 2026)?

Wordle hints for May 12

• Today’s Wordle #1788 starts with the letter C, according to TechRadar (tech news outlet).
• The answer is five letters long and contains at least one vowel — likely E or A based on frequency data from Word.Tips (word game resource).
• E is the most common ending letter among all Wordle answers (Tom’s Guide (tech help site)).

Your first guess strategy

With a first letter of C, try a word like CRANE or CANOE, which places C early and tests common vowels. According to Tom’s Guide (tech help site), CRANE leaves only 38 possible answers remaining — a strong starting point for today’s puzzle.

The implication: Even without knowing the full answer, starting with a high-frequency word like CRANE or TALES gives you the best shot at solving within four guesses.

What’s the best word to start Wordle?

Top starting words by letter frequency

• TALES — statistically the best single opener, solving 95% of games in an average of 3.66 rounds (SFI Research News (data analytics institute)).
• CRANE — reduces possibilities to 38 on average (Tom’s Guide).
• CANOE — the statistically optimal starting word according to letter frequency analysis (Word Finder by YourDictionary (word game analytics)).
• SLATE — recommended by NYT WordleBot (Word Finder by YourDictionary).
• RAISE — covers three vowels and common consonants R and S.

Why ‘CRANE’ and ‘SLATE’ are popular

These words balance high-frequency consonants (C, R, N, S, L, T) with vowels A and E. According to Capitalize My Title (word analysis site), the most common letters in English are E, A, R, I, O, T, N, S. CRANE covers E, A, R, N, C and SLATE covers S, L, A, T, E — both hit four of the top eight letters.

The trade-off: No single word guarantees a win, but using a data-backed opener narrows the field faster. For example, a random start like “XYLYL” would leave hundreds of possibilities.

The implication: Consistent use of a data-backed opener raises your overall success rate across puzzles.

What are the best 5 words to start with in Wordle?

The five-word strategy for covering all common letters

Using five carefully chosen words can theoretically guarantee solving any puzzle in six guesses, because you can cover all common letters by the fifth guess and leave only the sixth for the answer. According to an analysis by SFI Research News, a set of five words that covers 20 distinct high-frequency letters is ideal.

• BRUTE — B, R, U, T, E
• CLOUD — C, L, O, U, D
• SNAKY — S, N, A, K, Y
• GHOST — G, H, O, S, T
• WIMPY — W, I, M, P, Y

This set hits 19 common letters including all vowels and often‑used consonants. The NYT article “NYT Wordle is nearly impossible to lose if you use these 5 words” popularized this approach.

Example word set: BRUTE, CLOUD, SNAKY, etc.

A practical five‑word run: Guess BRUTE first, then CLOUD, then SNAKY. By guess 3 you’ve covered 15 letters. Then use the feedback to slot the remaining letters.

The catch: This strategy works best if you can remember the word set and execute it quickly. The trade-off is that five dedicated guesses use up most of your attempts, leaving little room for error if the answer uses rare letters like X or Z.

What is the 3 word Wordle trick?

How a three-word opener reduces possibilities

The three‑word trick aims to reveal the positions of 15 letters in three guesses, leaving your last three attempts to solve the puzzle. According to Word Finder by YourDictionary, the key is to pick words with no overlapping letters and that cover the most common consonants and vowels.

Optimal three-word combinations

• DRAIN, MOUTH, BEGOT — covers D, R, A, I, N; M, O, U, T, H; B, E, G, O, T. (O repeats, but the set still covers 14 unique letters.)
• STARE, COULD, NIGH — S, T, A, R, E; C, O, U, L, D; N, I, G, H. 15 unique letters.
• RAISE, MOUNT, CHILD — R, A, I, S, E; M, O, U, N, T; C, H, I, L, D. (I repeats; 14 unique.)

Compared to the five‑word strategy, the three‑word trick leaves more guesses for solving but may miss a few rare letters. A data analyst from SFI Research News notes that the three‑word approach offers a balance between information gain and guess efficiency.

The pattern: Players who match the strategy to their comfort level see the best results.

What’s the best second word in Wordle?

How to choose a second word based on first guess results

The best second word depends entirely on the feedback from your first guess. If your opener gets you no yellow or green tiles, you need a second word that tests entirely new letters. According to SFI Research News, the best two‑seed strategy is to use CONES as the first guess and TRIAL as the second — together they achieve a 96% success rate. If you start with TALES and get no matches, switch to CRONY or PRIDE to introduce new common letters.

Common second-word choices and their logic

• After CRANE with no matches: try LITHS or DOUBT.
• After TALES with only a yellow E: use CRONY (C, R, O, N, Y) to test more letters.
• After RAISE with a green R: try ROUND to confirm the position and add O, U, N, D.

Word Finder by YourDictionary recommends using a word that includes the most frequent letters not yet tested. The logic is simple: maximize the information gained from your second guess to drastically reduce the pool of possible answers.

The pattern: Players who adapt their second guess based on first‑guess feedback solve puzzles in an average of 3.5 guesses, compared to 4.5 for those who use a fixed second word regardless.

Timeline: Wordle’s journey from side project to daily ritual

• October 2021 — Josh Wardle launches Wordle for his partner. Tom’s Guide
• January 2022 — The New York Times acquires Wordle. (TechRadar)
• February 2022 — Wordle moves to NYT Games; archives removed. (Tom’s Guide)
• May 12, 2026 — Puzzle #1788 published; first letter C. (TechRadar)

What the experts say

“We choose words that feel satisfying to solve — not too obscure, not too obvious.”

— Tracy Bennett, NYT Wordle Editor, in an interview on word selection

“Using TALES as your first guess gives you a 95% chance of solving within six tries, but only if you adapt your second guess based on the feedback.”

— Data analyst, Real Statistics Using Excel, as cited by SFI Research News

The numbers are clear: a data‑driven approach to Wordle isn’t just for statisticians — it’s a practical way to turn frustration into consistent wins. For the average player who opens the NYT Games app each morning, the choice is simple: stick with random guesses and a 4.1‑guess average, or adopt TALES or CRANE as your go‑to opening word and watch your success rate climb. The data says the latter works — and today’s puzzle is the perfect place to start.

How to improve your Wordle score consistently

1. Choose a data‑backed opening word like TALES or CRANE.
2. Use the feedback from guess 1 to adapt your second guess (e.g., CONES then TRIAL).
3. If you prefer a broad sweep, employ the three‑word trick (DRAIN, MOUTH, BEGOT).
4. As a last resort, try the five‑word set to cover nearly all letters.
5. Always analyze which letters remain and use process of elimination.

Comparison of Wordle Strategies

Here’s a side‑by‑side look at the main approaches:

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For those seeking a different perspective on today’s puzzle, New York Times Wordle of the Day hints offer additional strategies and insights.

Frequently asked questions