Wordle UK: Hints and Answer for UK Players
Midnight has just passed, the kettle's on, and the new puzzle is already live. Wordle UK simply means the daily NYT Wordle as played in Britain, where each new puzzle arrives at midnight UK time rather than on American time.
On this page, you'll find today's Wordle hints timed to the UK clock, the answer tucked behind a button, and notes on British spelling. You'll also learn exactly when the puzzle resets, and why friends in America stay a puzzle behind you for a few hours after midnight.
What are today's Wordle hints in the UK?
Today's Wordle hints in the UK are five clues from the answer, timed to the UK clock: the vowel count, any repeated letter, any rare letter, then the first and last letters. Open them in order and stop when it clicks.
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Vowels
The word contains two vowels (A, E, I, O, U).
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Repeated letters
No letter appears more than once.
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Less common letters
The word uses only common letters (no J, Q, X, Z, K or V).
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First letter
The first letter is D.
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Last letter
The last letter is E.
Show the answer
The answer is DUNCE.
Want the meaning too? See the full answer with a few puzzle facts.
When does the new Wordle start in the UK?
A new Wordle goes live at midnight UK time, every night of the year. That means midnight GMT in winter and midnight BST from late March to late October, so the clock change never shifts when your puzzle arrives in Britain.
How far ahead of America are UK players?
- About five hours ahead of New York and Toronto.
- About eight hours ahead of Los Angeles and Vancouver.
- The gap shifts by an hour for a few weeks each spring and autumn, because the UK and US change their clocks on different dates.
That head start is the best part of Wordle UK if you're a night owl. Just don't spoil it for friends across the pond, because after midnight here you're already on a puzzle they won't see until their own midnight comes round.
Does Wordle use British or American spelling?
Wordle answers use American spelling. Every past answer we've found with a British version used the US form, such as LABOR and FIBER. British spellings still count as valid guesses, so FIBRE won't be rejected, but it won't turn green either.
Here's the full list we've spotted so far, with the date each American spelling first appeared as an answer:
| Answer (US spelling) | First used | UK spelling | Valid guess? |
|---|---|---|---|
| labor | 21 September 2021 (#94) | labour | No, it has six letters |
| favor | 12 January 2022 (#207) | favour | No, it has six letters |
| humor | 9 February 2022 (#235) | humour | No, it has six letters |
| ardor | 3 November 2023 (#867) | ardour | No, it has six letters |
| savor | 25 June 2024 (#1102) | savour | No, it has six letters |
| meter | 19 August 2024 (#1157) | metre | Yes |
| fiber | 19 October 2024 (#1218) | fibre | Yes |
How should you handle a word with two spellings?
- Spot the letters that differ between the two spellings, such as OR and OUR, or ER and RE.
- Guess the American spelling first, since that's what past answers have used.
- Save the British spelling for testing letters, not for trying to win.
Pro Tip
Words like LABOUR and FAVOUR have six letters, so they can never be a Wordle answer at all. If your brain keeps reaching for the British form, drop the U and you'll have the five-letter version.
Is the UK Wordle different from the US one?
No. There's one Wordle for the whole world, run by The New York Times, with the same word, puzzle number and six-guess limit wherever you play. Only the arrival time changes, and in the UK it arrives hours earlier than in America.
So Wordle UK isn't a separate game at all. Curious about who picks the words and how the game has changed since its move to the NYT? Read our guide to how NYT Wordle works.
New to Wordle?
You've got six tries to guess a five-letter word. After each guess, tiles turn green for the right letter in the right spot, yellow for the right letter in the wrong spot, and grey for letters not in the word.
Our guide covers the rules for beginners, with a real game played out guess by guess.
Wordle UK FAQs
What time does Wordle change in the UK?
At midnight UK time. That's GMT in winter and BST in summer, and you don't need to do anything when the clocks change, because this page follows the UK clock automatically.
Is Wordle in the UK the same as in America?
Yes. Everyone gets the same word and the same puzzle number, but UK players get it first: about five hours before New York and eight hours before Los Angeles, give or take an hour around the clock changes.
Does Wordle accept British spellings?
Yes, as guesses. FIBRE, METRE and SABRE are all valid, but every past answer we've found with a UK and US version, from LABOR onwards, used the American spelling.
Why is my friend in the US on a different puzzle?
Because each new Wordle starts at midnight where the player lives. After midnight in Britain you're on the next puzzle, while your friend in the US stays on the previous one until their own midnight.
Do I need an account to play Wordle in the UK?
No. Wordle UK players use the same free game as everyone else, on The New York Times website and in its Games app. Logging in is optional, though it does save your streak and stats if you switch between phone and laptop.
Where can I see the answer instead of hints?
In the hint box at the top of this page, behind the answer button. For the word's meaning and a few puzzle facts as well, our full answer page has the lot.
Fancy a head start on tomorrow?
Then come back just after midnight UK time, when tomorrow's Wordle UK hints go live while it's still early evening in New York. In the meantime, pick a stronger opener from our ranked list of starting words.