A structurally powerful two-vowel word that relies on the incredibly common consonants R, N, and D to slice through the dictionary.
Tests the O-U pair. While it skips A, E, and I, getting a hit on O or U immediately provides strong structural hints.
R, N, and D are among the absolute best consonants in the game, frequently forming common suffixes and blends.
Extremely strong positional play. R is great in position 1, U in 3, N in 4, and D in 5.
We evaluate ROUND based on its ability to test top-tier consonants while isolating the less common O/U vowel pair.
O and U are very often paired together (e.g., OUGHT, PROUD, COURT). Testing them simultaneously is a highly effective strategy.
R, N, and D are phenomenal structural dividers. Finding an N and D often implies an -ND ending, while R frequently dictates blends.
The layout of ROUND is nearly perfect for the letters it contains. D is extremely common in position 5, and N is highly common in position 4.
With an entropy score of 3.88 bits, ROUND performs very well, although it is slightly outclassed by top-tier words containing E and A.
An average ROUND play cuts the dictionary down to about 110 remaining answers.
ROUND is a valid Wordle answer, keeping the dream of a 1/6 win alive.
If you prefer to focus on strong consonants rather than maximizing vowel discovery, ROUND is a highly effective choice.
By skipping A, E, and I, ROUND takes a contrarian approach. However, if the target word is heavily reliant on O and U, ROUND will often solve the puzzle almost entirely on the first turn (e.g., FOUND, MOUND, PROUD).
The sheer power of R, N, and D compensates for the lack of primary vowels, making ROUND a favorite among players who use a two-guess strategy (pairing it with words like SLATE or CHEAT).
Let’s examine how each of ROUND’s letters performs.
Frequency: High
Positional Strength: Strong
R is a fantastic starting letter (RIGHT, ROUND, REACT), immediately dictating consonant blends.
Frequency: High
Positional Strength: Very Strong
O is incredibly common in position 2 (ROUND, SOUND, COURT, POINT).
Frequency: Medium
Positional Strength: Strong
U in position 3 often pairs seamlessly with O in position 2 (-OU- patterns).
Frequency: High
Positional Strength: Strong
N is one of the most common letters in position 4, often found before D, T, or S.
Frequency: High
Positional Strength: Average
While D is common at the end of words (especially past tense verbs, though Wordle avoids most of them), E and Y are much more common final letters.
By relying exclusively on O and U, ROUND takes a gamble. If it hits, you are in a phenomenal position. If it misses, you must immediately hunt for A, E, and I on guess two. Fortunately, finding A, E, and I is very easy with words like SLATE or CHEAT.
R, N, and D are top-tier consonants. Finding out if a word contains an N or D provides immediate structural clues, particularly about suffixes. R is arguably the single best consonant in the game due to its versatility.
Looking at ROUND through the lens of Information Theory:
How does ROUND compare to other popular strategies?
Winner: SOUND
S is slightly more common than R, giving SOUND a very small edge over ROUND. However, if you prefer to save S for your second guess, ROUND is highly effective.
In Hard Mode, ROUND is risky (Rating: 65/100). The biggest danger is hitting the O, N, and D. Words like BOUND, FOUND, HOUND, MOUND, POUND, SOUND, and WOUND create a massive Hard Mode trap. If you get a green O, U, N, and D, you could easily lose the game relying purely on luck.
How to handle feedback from ROUND:
Meaning: Starts with R, but O, U, N, D are absent. Best next move: REACH, RIGHT, RELAY. Note: You must test E, A, and I immediately.
Meaning: The dreaded -OUND trap. Best next move: If in Normal Mode, guess a scouting word like CHAMPS to test C, H, M, P, S. If in Hard Mode, pray.
Meaning: R, O, U, N, D are all absent. Best next move: SLATE, STALE, or CHEAT. Note: You have effectively eliminated a huge chunk of the dictionary. A strong A/E word will likely crack the puzzle.
Yes, it is a very solid word that provides excellent consonant structure via R, N, and D.
Yes. ROUND is on the official Wordle solution list.
Yes. ROUND tests vastly superior consonants, making it much easier to determine the structure of the word.
No. CRANE (4.25 entropy) mathematically outclasses ROUND (3.88 entropy) by testing A and E instead of O and U.
It focuses on the secondary vowels O and U. This is useful if you plan to play a strong A/E word on guess two.
SOUND is slightly better mathematically because S is slightly more frequent than R, but they are very close.
Guess SLATE, STALE, or CHEAT to check A, E, S, L, T, C, H.
It is popular among players who want to test O and U while securing high-value consonants like R, N, and D.
It means R is in the word but not in position 1. It is highly likely to be in position 2 (e.g., TRACK) or 4 (e.g., SHIRT).
ROUND has a strong entropy score of 3.88 bits.
Yes, but they must be aware of the -OUND trap if playing Hard Mode.
You have found a word starting with R and ending with D, like RAPID, RIGID, or ROAST (wait, ROAST ends in T). Try RAPID.
Yes. ROUND is much better for candidate reduction than AUDIO because of its strong consonants.
On average, ROUND reduces the dictionary down to about 110 remaining candidates.
Hitting the -OUND trap in Hard Mode, where you must guess between FOUND, HOUND, POUND, etc.
Absolutely. It is one of the easiest and most effective upgrades you can make to your strategy.
If you miss O and U, Y becomes a highly probable ending letter.
Yes. Wordle accepts it, and it is on the answer list.
Yes, it is excellent for multi-board games as part of a two-word opening sequence (e.g., ROUND + SLATE).
Fairly often. R is a very common starting letter (e.g., RIGHT, REACH, RADIO).
It’s a measure of how many words are eliminated by a guess. ROUND leaves 110 words.
U is the weakest letter, but it pairs nicely with O.
D is a very common final letter, especially in words ending in -ND or -RD.
Use our Wordle Analyzer tool to input ROUND against any specific daily answer.
If you prefer a strategy that isolates O and U, ROUND is a fantastic choice.
Try to reposition them into a new structure, like BLAND or SPEND.
SLATE (4.30 entropy) is mathematically superior, but ROUND is a great alternative.
Many words end in -NT, -ND, or -NE, making position 4 its dominant home.
Look for words starting with R that have O in position 3 or 4 (e.g., RIOT, ROBOT).
WordleBot prefers CRANE or SLATE, but ROUND is highly efficient and can easily play at an optimal human level if you avoid traps.
Input your ROUND results to get the exact remaining words.
Match word shapes instantly using our visual tool.
Review your finished game and see your efficiency score.
Compare ROUND against CRANE, SLATE, and SOUND.