Start the round
Look at the Word Ladder game above. If you see a start, play, or new game button, press it first.
Word Chain
Word Ladder
Transform one word into another, one letter at a time. A classic puzzle by Lewis Carroll!
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Word Ladder
Change one letter at a time to transform the start word into the target!
About Word Ladder
Word Ladder, also known as "Doublets" or "Word Golf," was invented by Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland) in 1877. The puzzle challenges you to transform one word into another by changing a single letter at each step.
Each intermediate word must be a valid English word. The goal is to complete the transformation in as few steps as possible. It's a wonderful exercise in vocabulary and lateral thinking!
This classic puzzle has inspired countless variations and remains popular today for its simple rules but challenging gameplay. Perfect for word lovers of all ages!
How to Play Word Ladder
1
See Your Goal
You'll see a starting word and a target word. Your mission is to transform the first into the second.
2
Change One Letter
Enter a word that differs by exactly ONE letter from the previous word. It must be a real English word!
3
Build the Ladder
Keep adding words step by step until you reach the target word. Try to do it in minimum steps!
4
Use Hints if Stuck
Each puzzle has hints available. You can also undo moves if you go down a wrong path.
Tips & Strategies
- •Work from both ends: Think about words close to both the start AND target
- •Look for common patterns: Words with common letters in the same position are easier to connect
- •Try vowel changes: Swapping vowels (A, E, I, O, U) often creates valid words
- •Don't go in circles: Avoid returning to letters you've already changed
- •Think of word families: CAT-COT-COG-DOG uses common word endings
Benefits of Playing Word Ladder
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Vocabulary Expansion
Discover new words and connections
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Lateral Thinking
Train creative problem-solving skills
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Pattern Recognition
See relationships between words
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Strategic Planning
Plan multiple steps ahead
Frequently Asked Questions
Word Ladder is a word puzzle invented by Lewis Carroll where you transform one word into another by changing one letter at a time. Each intermediate step must be a valid English word.
Start with the given word and try to reach the target word. Each step, change exactly one letter to form a new valid word. Continue until you reach the target in as few steps as possible.
A valid move changes exactly one letter from the previous word to create a new real English word. For example: CAT → COT → COG → DOG. You cannot add or remove letters.
Each puzzle has an optimal solution with a minimum number of steps. Try to match or beat the minimum! Using fewer steps shows expert-level word knowledge.
Use the Hint button to get a suggested next word. You can also Undo your last move if you went down a wrong path. Try thinking of words that share letters with both your current word and the target.
The game accepts common English words. Very obscure or archaic words may not be recognized. If a word is rejected, try a more common alternative.