Quordle isn’t just Wordle’s tougher sibling—it’s a fast-paced puzzle showdown where you juggle four words at once. With only nine guesses in Classic Quordle (or eight in Extreme mode), your opening moves need to be razor-sharp. But don’t worry!
After analyzing Reddit threads, top-ranked blogs, and YouTube tutorials, I’ve crafted a guide packed with human-tested strategies and word lists to turn you into a Quordle champion.
We have also written a comprehensive post on the best Octordle starting words.
Why Your Starting Words Are the Key to Quordle Success
Imagine this: You type ADIEU and instantly see yellow highlights for A and E across two grids. Now you know those vowels appear somewhere in the answers. But if you start with ZEBRA, you risk wasting guesses on rare letters like Z.
Quordle’s unique structure solving four words at once, means every guess must pull double duty.
Here’s the golden rule shared by Reddit’s r/Quordle community: Your first two guesses should act like detectives, uncovering vowels and common consonants across all four grids. Let’s break this down.
Start with Vowel-Heavy Words
Vowels (A, E, I, O, U) are the backbone of most English words. Identifying them early helps you eliminate impossible options. For example, if ADIEU reveals no vowels, you know the answers might include Y (e.g., “GYPSY” or “LYNCH”).
Best Quordle Starting Words
Words with 4 Vowels
| Words | Description |
| ADIEU | Tests A, D, I, E, U |
| AUDIO | Tests A, U, D, I, O |
| AULOI | Tests A, U, L, O, I (rare but effective) |
| AUREI | Tests A, U, R, E, I |
| LOUIE | Tests L, O, U, I, E |
| MIAOU | Tests M, I, A, O, U |
| OUIJA | Tests O, U, I, J, A (J is rare but worth testing) |
| OURIE | Tests O, U, R, I, E |
| URAEI | Tests U, R, A, E, I |
Words with 3 Vowels
| Words | Description |
| ABUSE | Tests A, B, U, S, E |
| ALIEN | Tests A, L, I, E, N |
| ALONE | Tests A, L, O, N, E |
| ARGUE | Tests A, R, G, U, E |
| ARISE | Tests A, R, I, S, E |
| CAMEO | Tests C, A, M, E, O |
| GUIDE | Tests G, U, I, D, E |
| HAUTE | Tests H, A, U, T, E |
| HOUSE | Tests H, O, U, S, E |
| IMBUE | Tests I, M, B, U, E |
| IRATE | Tests I, R, A, T, E |
| JUICE | Tests J, U, I, C, E |
| MAUVE | Tests M, A, U, V, E |
| MEDIA | Tests M, E, D, I, A |
| MOVIE | Tests M, O, V, I, E |
| NAIVE | Tests N, A, I, V, E |
| OCEAN | Tests O, C, E, A, N |
| PATIO | Tests P, A, T, I, O |
| PIANO | Tests P, I, A, N, O |
| QUAIL | Tests Q, U, A, I, L |
| QUIET | Tests Q, U, I, E, T |
| QUITE | Tests Q, U, I, T, E |
| RADIO | Tests R, A, D, I, O |
| RAISE | Tests R, A, I, S, E |
| ROATE | Tests R, O, A, T, E |
| SAUCE | Tests S, A, U, C, E |
| SAUTE | Tests S, A, U, T, E |
| SOARE | Tests S, O, A, R, E |
| UNION | Tests U, N, I, O, N |
| UTILE | Tests U, T, I, L, E |
| VIDEO | Tests V, I, D, E, O |
| VOICE | Tests V, O, I, C, E |
| WAIVE | Tests W, A, I, V, E |
Best Starting Words with Common Consonants
Once you’ve identified vowels, target high-frequency consonants like S, T, R, N, and L. Below is a comprehensive list of word pairs that combine vowels and consonants strategically. These are formatted as plain text to avoid bullets or lists:
CENTS & RALPH: Tests C, E, N, T, S and R, A, L, P, H.
STARE & COULD: Covers S, T, A, R, E and C, O, U, L, D.
COALS & NITER: Tests C, O, A, L, S and N, I, T, E, R.
CAIRN & TOLES: Combines C, A, I, R, N and T, O, L, E, S.
CELTS & NERDY: Tests C, E, L, T, S and N, E, R, D, Y.
CENTS & REDLY: Covers C, E, N, T, S and R, E, D, L, Y.
DARNS & LETCH: Tests D, A, R, N, S and L, E, T, C, H.
COIRS & LATEN: Combines C, O, I, R, S and L, A, T, E, N.
CONES & TRAIL: Covers C, O, N, E, S and T, R, A, I, L.
CRANE & SPLIT: Tests C, R, A, N, E and S, P, L, I, T.
GNARL & TECHS: Combines G, N, A, R, L and T, E, C, H, S.
HATES & CLIMB/ROUND: Tests H, A, T, E, S and C, L, I, M, B or R, O, U, N, D.
HENTS & LYCRA: Covers H, E, N, T, S and L, Y, C, R, A.
HONES & TRAIL: Tests H, O, N, E, S and T, R, A, I, L.
HOSEL & TRAIN: Combines H, O, S, E, L and T, R, A, I, N.
LITHE & SONAR: Tests L, I, T, H, E and S, O, N, A, R.
LYCRA & THENS: Covers L, Y, C, R, A and T, H, E, N, S.
NERDY & TALCS: Tests N, E, R, D, Y and T, A, L, C, S.
ROAST & CLINE: Combines R, O, A, S, T and C, L, I, N, E.
ROATE & FUNDS: Tests R, O, A, T, E and F, U, N, D, S.
ROATE & SLING: Covers R, O, A, T, E and S, L, I, N, G.
SALET & CRONY or TALES & CRONY: Tests S, A, L, E, T and C, R, O, N, Y or T, A, L, E, S and C, R, O, N, Y.
SERAI & POUTY: Combines S, E, R, A, I and P, O, U, T, Y.
SOAR & CLINT: Tests S, O, A, R and C, L, I, N, T.
OURIE & BADLY: Covers O, U, R, I, E and B, A, D, L, Y.
SOUND & CRAMP: Tests S, O, U, N, D and C, R, A, M, P.
SOUTH & MADLY: Combines S, O, U, T, H and M, A, D, L, Y.
STORE/BLIMP or FINCH: Tests S, T, O, R, E and B, L, I, M, P or F, I, N, C, H.
TORUS & BATCH: Covers T, O, R, U, S and B, A, T, C, H.
ARISE & YOUTH: Tests A, R, I, S, E and Y, O, U, T, H.
AISLE & ROUND: Combines A, I, S, L, E and R, O, U, N, D.
The 3-Word Combination Strategy
For days when you need to solve Quordle quickly, use three words upfront to test 15+ letters. Below are 90 combinations used by top players (formatted as plain text):
RATIO, MENDS, LUCKY
SHAKE, ROUND, BLIMP
SCALY, GUIDE, THORN
DOUBT, SKIMP, CLEAR
INLET, SHARP, DUCKY
DRANK, PIVOT, FUSEL
SCALP, TIGER, MOUND
ROCKS, YIELD, FAUGH
CRAFT, BENDY, LOUIS
STREP, LYNCH, OUIJA
SPINE, LOATH, MURKY
RANCH, YIELD, SPOUT
DROWN, PEATS, QUICK
TRIED, PLANS, JOCKY
SPARE, CLOUD, THINK
GUIDE, PLAYS, THORN
ROUGH, FLAME, DINKY
PLANT, ROUGH, DIMES
HANDY, FLIPS, TOWER
DRIVE, STUNK, CHAMP
INLET, SHARP, MUCKY
INLET, SHARP, DUCKY
WITCH, READY, FOULS
EARTH, LIONS, DUCKY
FRONT, PICKY, SUAVE
STUCK, DRIVE, FOAMY
CHIMP, SLAVE, WRONG
RIGHT, PLANE, COMBS
LEAST, PROUD, MINCY
FLAKY, DROPS, CHIME
WAXEN, ROUGH, FLICK
OWNER, STICK, MADLY
IDEAS, PUNCH, FORTY
WORDS, PLATE, GUNKY
READY, WIGHT, FLOPS
POULT, SHINY, BRACE
LEASH, PRINT, GUMBO
CRANE, DIMLY, SPOUT
CURLY, POINT, DAMES
THING, PROUD, FLAME
BERTH, WOULD, FANCY
COUGH, FIRST, PLANE
FRONT, GUILD, SPEAK
SLAVE, DOING, PURTY
WAXEN, STRUM, BLOCK
STAIN, GHOUL, MERCY
TRIPS, HOMED, CAULK
SLATE, PRICK, MOUND
LIONS, CRATE, BUMPY
PLAID, FROST, CHUNK
SOLAR, TIMED, HUNKY
TASER, MOUND, LYRIC
FLUID, COMET, GRASP
ROCKS, YIELD, FAUGH
SOARE, UNTIL, CHYME
SOARE, UNTIL, GLYPH
CRANE, FLOPS, HUMID
WRITE, PLOYS, MUNCH
WITCH, PRANK, FUELS
PHONE, RUSTY, CLAIM
GHOST, MAPLE, WRICK
GROIN, CHUMP, SLATE
LIMPS, CRATE, HOUND
COUNT, READY, FILMS
TRAIN, DOLES, CHUMP
STARE, FOLIC, DUMPY
OILED, RANTS, CHUMP
BRING, PLACE, STUDY
FORGE, PINTS, MULCH
YIELD, PORKS, WATCH
ADIEU, SNORT, LYMPH
TRACE, PLOYS, HUMID
RENTS, AUDIO, GLYPH
DOUBT, SLICK, REAMY
QUILT, WRONG, MEADS
SLICE, PARTY, HOUND
THINK, WORSE, PALMY
SPLIT, DOUGH, BEANY
SLATE, GROIN, BUMPY
LATER, COINS, DUMPY
WHALE, TRICK, BUMPS
PLANT, HOMER, FUDGY
BREAD, SHOWN, TULIP
FREAK, HOLDS, PUBLIC
COUGH, FRIED, STAMP
PLIER, FUNKY, TOADS
PLAID, FROST, CHUNK
GHOST, MAPLE, WRICK
TEARS, POUND, CLIMB
BLIND, CHAPT, MORSE
Why You Should Avoid Rare and Double Letters
Letters like Q, V, X, and Z appear in less than 2% of Quordle answers. Using them early wastes guesses. For example, guessing ZEBRA might test Z and B, which are rarely in the solution.
Similarly, avoid double letters like SASSY or BEEFY upfront. These limit your ability to test new letters. Save them for later when you’ve confirmed repeats.
Conclusion
Quordle is equal parts strategy and adaptability. While there’s no “perfect” starting word, combinations like ADIEU + STORY or ROATE + SLING give you a fighting chance. Remember:
- Practice Daily: The more you play, the better you’ll recognize patterns.
- Learn from Losses: Analyze failed grids to refine your strategy.
- Join the Community: Reddit’s r/Quordle and YouTube tutorials are goldmines of tips.
Whether you’re a casual player or aiming for a 100-day streak, these strategies will sharpen your skills. Now grab your favorite starting word, tackle today’s puzzle, and share your wins (or hilarious fails) in the comments below!