How to play Word Square
The rules
- The board is a 5×5 square without its corners. The letters around the edge are given.
- Fill the 9 centre squares with the letters under the board. Each letter is used once.
- Then the 3 middle rows and the 3 middle columns must each read a 5-letter word.
How to play here
- Tap a centre square to select it, then tap a letter to put it there. The next empty square is selected for you.
- Drag a letter onto a square, from one square to another, or back under the board.
- Keyboard: type a letter to place it, the arrows move, Backspace deletes.
- Undo takes back the last move, and a hint shows where to look.
Difficulty levels
| Level | Words | Letters already shown |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | The most common words | 4 |
| Medium | Common words | 2 |
| Hard | Some less common words | 1 |
| Expert | Several less common words | 0 |
Tips
- Start with the row or column whose edge letters are the most unusual, such as a J, K or Y.
- Count the vowels in the letters: most words need at least one in the middle three squares.
- A letter in a centre square belongs to a row and a column: check that it fits both.
FAQ
- Can more than one answer work?
- No. Every puzzle is checked before you see it: only one way to place the letters makes all six words.
- Which words count?
- Common English 5-letter words. The easy level uses only the most common words; the harder levels use rarer ones.
- What happens when I fill the last square with a wrong letter?
- The board marks every row and column that is not right yet. Move or remove letters to fix them.
- Is there a new puzzle every day?
- Yes. A new Word Square is published every day at each of the four levels: easy, medium, hard and expert. Earlier puzzles are in the archive.
- Do I need an account to play?
- No. You play right in your browser, with no sign-up and no cookies. Your progress is saved in your browser.