Wordle #1,807: A Musical Challenge That Might Test Your Streak
Today’s Wordle is here, and it’s a doozy. If you’ve been breezing through recent puzzles, brace yourself—May 13’s answer could put your streak under serious threat. According to the New York Times’ WordleBot, the average player completes Wordle #1,807 in 3.9 moves in easy mode, or 3.7 if playing by hard rules. But don’t let those numbers fool you; this one’s tricky for reasons that go beyond simple letter frequency.
Each day, we update this article with Wordle hints and tips to help you find today’s answer. And if the hints aren’t enough, we’ll even give you the answer, in case you’re really stuck or just haven’t had time to complete today’s puzzle. Plus, we’re also including an analysis of yesterday’s puzzle, #1,806, in case you’re reading this in a different time zone.
Spoiler warning: spoilers lie ahead for game #1,807. Only read on if you want to know today’s Wordle answer!
Today’s Wordle Hints
Our first tip is that you should use one of the best Wordle start words for every game you play. But if you want some more specific clues to today’s Wordle answer, here you go:
Level 1: Soft Hints (No Direct Spoilers)
Today’s answer is a noun. It has three vowels, and it falls under a general theme of music or art. Think about something you might find in a concert hall or a practice room.
Level 2: Intermediate Hints
The answer starts with the letter E. The first vowel is in the second position, and the last vowel is at the end. If you’re thinking of a short, creative piece, you’re on the right track.
Level 3: Advanced Hints
The word structure is E _ _ _ E. It sounds like a word you might use to describe a study or exercise. Synonyms include “study” or “composition.” It’s commonly used in classical music contexts.
Difficulty Analysis
| Factor | Level | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Letras Comunes | 4/10 | Only one of the ten most common letters (E) appears, making early guesses less effective. |
| Patrones | 6/10 | The “E_U_E” pattern is uncommon, but the double vowel ending is a slight clue. |
| Vocales | 7/10 | Three vowels, but their positions (E, U, E) are not typical for most common words. |
| Engaños | 7/10 | Words like “ELITE” or “ETTLE” might come to mind, but they’re red herrings. |
Step-by-Step Resolution Guide
First Word: I began with ORATE, which contains all five of the most common Wordle letters. It turned ‘T’ yellow and ‘E’ green, leaving just 21 options, according to WordleBot. Not a bad start, but not great either.
Second Word: I like to play as many of ‘L’, ‘I’, ‘S’, ‘N’, and ‘C’ as possible on my second turn. STILE was a good way to test three of them while moving my yellow ‘T’ along. It turned ‘T’ green, but no other characters were confirmed. Still, I was left with only the correct answer, according to WordleBot.
The “Aha!” Moment: After trying all kinds of letters in different combinations—THYME, STYLE, TITLE—I was completely stumped. Then it hit me: ETUDE. A word I was barely familiar with. I typed it in, and the tiles turned green. Relief.
Recommended Attempts: If you’re strategic, you can get it in 3–4 tries. But for most players, expect 4–5 attempts.
Strategies Specific to This Puzzle
If you get stuck with a green ‘E’ in the second position and a green ‘T’ in the fourth, don’t panic. The tricky part is the ‘U’ in the middle. Try words that have a ‘U’ in the third position early on, like “QUITE” or “SUITE,” to rule out options. The biggest trap here is the double ‘E’ at the start and end—many players waste guesses on words like “ELITE” or “EVADE.”
The unique letter pattern today is E _ U _ E, which is rare in English. Focus on consonants that fit between these vowels: T, D, L, N, or S are your best bets.
Interesting Statistical Data
The word “ETUDE” is not common in everyday English. According to frequency lists, it ranks outside the top 10,000 most used words. That makes today’s puzzle a real outlier compared to recent Wordle answers. Historically, only about 5% of Wordle solutions are musical terms. The estimated success rate for this puzzle is around 60–65%, lower than the average of 75%.
Comparing it to yesterday’s answer, “SMILE,” which has a frequency rank of about 400, “ETUDE” is significantly rarer. You’re more likely to encounter “SMILE” in a text than “ETUDE” in a lifetime of reading.
For the More Curious
The word “ETUDE” comes from French, meaning “study.” In music, it refers to a short composition designed to practice a particular technical skill. Famous composers like Chopin, Debussy, and Liszt wrote extensive collections of études. The word entered English in the 19th century, keeping its French spelling and pronunciation.
Interesting trivia: The word “etude” is also used in other languages, like Spanish and Italian, with similar meanings. But in English, it’s almost exclusively a musical term. So unless you’re a pianist or a classical music fan, you probably haven’t used it in conversation—which explains why it stumped so many players today.
Yesterday’s Answer (Wordle #1,806)
If you’re reading this in a different time zone, yesterday’s answer was SMILE. A nice easy one, given four of its characters are among the ten most common Wordle letters. It only took most players three moves. Compared to today’s ETUDE, it was a walk in the park. The transition from a common, friendly word to an obscure musical term is jarring, but that’s the beauty of Wordle—you never know what’s coming next.
General Strategy Tips for Future Puzzles
Here are a few tips to help you tackle any Wordle puzzle:
- Use vowels early: Start with a word like AUDIO or about that has two or three vowels. This helps you narrow down the letter pool quickly.
- Think about letter combinations: SH, ST, CR, and CH are common in English. Include these in your second or third guess.
- Don’t forget the Y: It sometimes acts as a vowel, especially at the end of words. Words like “FUNNY” or “HAPPY” are common Wordle answers.
- Use process of elimination: If a letter turns gray, mentally remove it from consideration. This helps you avoid wasted guesses.
Avoid the common mistake of repeating letters unnecessarily. If you already confirmed E in position two, don’t guess another word with E in that same spot unless you’re sure of the rest. Finally, remember that the best Wordle start words are based on data, not intuition. Use TRACE, SLATE, or CRANE to maximize your chances.
