Considering the global sensation it has developed into, Wordle has remarkably humble origins. The puzzle was perfected during the COVID-19 lockdown by Josh Wardle, a software engineer based in New York, who simply wanted a game "for me and my partner to enjoy."
Wardle released Wordle to the general public in October 2021, and it quickly developed a dedicated following across the English-speaking world. Indeed, some fans took to sharing their results and comparing strategies each day on social media.
In January 2022, Wardle sold Wordle to The New York Times for an undisclosed seven-figure sum, though the game remained free to play.
A large part of Wordle's appeal is its simplicity. Players get six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Gray tiles behind each letter indicate that they are not in the word at all; yellow means the letter features but is in the wrong position; while green lets players know the letter is in the word and in the correct place.
Previously speaking to Newsweek, Erhan Aslan, a linguistics expert who teaches at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, provided some tips for Wordle players.
"One thing that I think is important in this game is the starting word chosen. Starting off with words that include commonly used vowels, for example, e and a, consonants such as r and t, and sound sequences might be helpful. Choosing a word that starts with q, z, j, or x, for instance, may not be the best choice," he said.
The answer to Sunday's puzzle will be revealed at the end of this article, so scroll down with caution if you want to work it out for yourself.
Wordle #1,317, Clues for Sunday, January 26
Newsweek has put together five clues to help you solve today's brainteaser.
Hint #1: The answer contains two vowels, one of which functions as a consonant in a different word structure.
Hint #2: The third and fourth letters are the same.
Hint #3: Synonyms include "luminous," "radiant" and "pleasant."
Hint #4: Associated with the weather.
Hint #5: There is no 'I' in team. The same applies to Sunday's Wordle puzzle.
Wordle #1,317, Answer for Sunday, January 26
The answer to today's Wordle puzzle is "sunny."
Well, that was a fun one! A relatively common word, though containing an unusual vowel which made it more of a challenge.
Did you figure it out? If so congratulations, but please don't be put off if not. One of the best things about Wordle is seeing if you can improve your result over time and Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips on Monday.
What Does 'Sunny' Mean?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "sunny" as "marked by brilliant sunlight: full of sunshine."
For example: "As it's such a nice sunny day why don't we go for a walk in the park."
English (US) ·