5 FiveLetterWords
Very unlikely Accepted guess C tier for first-turn info

KATIS

KATIS is an accepted guess. Its modelled answer likelihood is very unlikely; no globally completed appearance is recorded here.

Meaning and pronunciation

Noun

plural of kati

Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Corrections.

Use KATIS in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 93.3% of possible answers.

Open Solver with KATIS Open Word Finder

Wordle status

Answer chance: very unlikely. Roughly 0.05% within a year (about 1 in 2,113), under the model through 2026-11-05. This is an estimate, not a publisher forecast. How this is calculated.

Playable guess

Yes

Included in the Wordle guess list used by our tools.

Earlier benchmark pool

No

Membership in the preserved uniform benchmark; it is not a future eligibility rule.

Past Wordle answer

No completed appearance

No appearance in our globally completed history. A recent puzzle may still be live elsewhere.

The possible-answer list is the solver's current list and may change when Wordle adds new answers.

How KATIS performs as a guess

Wordle accepts KATIS as a guess. It is outside this preserved uniform benchmark’s answer pool; that is not a claim about future eligibility.

Played as an opener, it lands at least one colored tile in 81.7% of games, misses completely in 18.3%, and leaves about 161 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #4,361 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.66 guesses in games solved within six turns.

Try your feedback pattern

Tap the tiles to match your feedback, then see the ranked follow-up guesses.

All gray? Tap a tile to cycle gray → yellow → green.
See strategy patterns

Useful pattern pages

If you only know part of the word, start with one of these matching patterns.

K___S K in the 1st position and S in the 5th position K__I_ K in the 1st position and I in the 4th position _A__S A in the 2nd position and S in the 5th position KA_IS K in the 1st position, A in the 2nd position, I in the 4th position, and S in the 5th position

Explore lists that match the beginning, ending or letters in KATIS.

First-turn measures

All four describe KATIS used as an opening guess. Entropy is the same idea as “avg ruled out” on a log scale: a higher number means the guess splits the possible answers into more, smaller groups.

4.73 Entropy (bits)
161 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
93.3% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How KATIS performed in the previous complete opener benchmark, against its captured answer snapshot. These research figures are separate from today's solver recommendations. See the data page for the method.

3.66 Avg guesses
99.96% Solved within six
0.67 Spread of game lengths
#4,361 Rank among openers
Opening with KATIS left 1 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.67 means those games clustered within about 0.67 of a guess of the 3.66 average. It ranks #4,361 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
48
3 guesses
909
4 guesses
1,204
5 guesses
181
6 guesses
11

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
AIST

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
82%
Green tile
24%
All gray
18%

When KATIS is useful later

KATIS tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 5 of 54 sampled positions where it was legal. This designed sample is not a measure of how often real players should use it.

After SLATE: 4 candidates, normal mode

SLATE: 01112 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: LATHE, LATKE, TABLE, TELAE.

With a budget of 5 more guesses, KATIS is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
After ADIEU: 3 candidates, normal mode

ADIEU: 00000 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

SLOPS: 00202 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

NOOBS: 02202 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

COOMS: 02212 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: MOOKS, MOORS, MOOTS.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, KATIS is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
After AUDIO: 3 candidates, normal mode

AUDIO: 11200 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: LADDU, SADHU, UNDAM.

With a budget of 5 more guesses, KATIS is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
Sample and method

Every saved board is reachable within a six-turn game. Remaining turns equal six minus the saved history length. The sampling policy is independent of the expected-survivor metric. Two states at each of three depths per opener were selected by a fixed hash from an independent candidate-only sampling policy. Every accepted guess was evaluated. Model answer-model-2026-11-05-9183a914c959, data through 2026-11-05. The score measures expected survivors, not proved solve length or human difficulty.

How this is calculated.

How the solver finds KATIS

The strategy receives only earlier guesses and their feedback. It does not know the answer before choosing a move. Guessing the answer itself on turn one is a lucky one-turn result, not a recommended general strategy.

Normal mode

Our solver: bounded weighted policy. Current-pool replay over 14,855 accepted words. Model through 2026-11-05.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 97 after. This feedback leaves 97 candidates.

    All 97 surviving candidates

    BAFTS, BAHTS, BAITS, BANTS, BASTA, BASTI, BASTO, BASTS, BATHS, BATOS, BATTS, BAYTS, CANTS, CASTS, DALTS, DANTS, DATOS, DAUTS, DAWTS, FACTS, FASTI, FASTS, FAUTS, GAITS, GANTS, GASTS, GATHS, HAATS, HAFTS, HALTS, HANTS, HASTA, HASTY, JATIS, JATOS, KANTS, KATAS, KATIS, LANTS, LASTS, LATHS, LATUS, MAFTS, MALTS, MANTS, MASTS, MASTY, MASUT, MATHS, MATTS, MAUTS, NAATS, NANTS, NASTY, NATIS, OASTS, OATHS, PACTS, PANTS, PASTA, PASTS, PASTY, PATAS, PATHS, PATUS, SABOT, SAINT, SAITH, SAKTI, SALAT, SALTO, SALTS, SALTY, SALUT, SANTO, SANTS, SATAI, SATAY, SATIN, SATIS, SAULT, SAUNT, SAUTS, VANTS, VASTS, VASTY, VATAS, VATOS, VATUS, VAUTS, WADTS, WAFTS, WAITS, WANTS, WASTS, WATTS, ZATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 414.45. Information: 5.74 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test PATAS against the 97 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    97 before → 19 after. This feedback leaves 19 candidates.

    All 19 surviving candidates

    BATHS, BATOS, BATTS, DATOS, GATHS, JATIS, JATOS, KATIS, LATHS, LATUS, MATHS, MATTS, NATIS, OATHS, SATIS, VATOS, VATUS, WATTS, ZATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 3.305. Information: 0.742 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test BOLES against the 19 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    19 before → 10 after. This feedback leaves 10 candidates.

    All 10 surviving candidates

    GATHS, JATIS, KATIS, MATHS, MATTS, NATIS, SATIS, VATUS, WATTS, ZATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 6.579. Information: 1.868 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test JATIS against the 10 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    10 before → 4 after. This feedback leaves 4 candidates.

    All 4 surviving candidates

    KATIS, NATIS, SATIS, ZATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 4.2. Information: 1.361 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test KANES against the 4 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    4 before → 1 after. This feedback leaves 1 candidate.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    KATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.5. Information: 1.5 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  6. Submit the only remaining candidate.

    1 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    KATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 6 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 5.

Continue this board in the Solver

Hard Mode

Our solver: bounded weighted policy. Current-pool replay over 14,855 accepted words. Model through 2026-11-05.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 97 after. This feedback leaves 97 candidates.

    All 97 surviving candidates

    BAFTS, BAHTS, BAITS, BANTS, BASTA, BASTI, BASTO, BASTS, BATHS, BATOS, BATTS, BAYTS, CANTS, CASTS, DALTS, DANTS, DATOS, DAUTS, DAWTS, FACTS, FASTI, FASTS, FAUTS, GAITS, GANTS, GASTS, GATHS, HAATS, HAFTS, HALTS, HANTS, HASTA, HASTY, JATIS, JATOS, KANTS, KATAS, KATIS, LANTS, LASTS, LATHS, LATUS, MAFTS, MALTS, MANTS, MASTS, MASTY, MASUT, MATHS, MATTS, MAUTS, NAATS, NANTS, NASTY, NATIS, OASTS, OATHS, PACTS, PANTS, PASTA, PASTS, PASTY, PATAS, PATHS, PATUS, SABOT, SAINT, SAITH, SAKTI, SALAT, SALTO, SALTS, SALTY, SALUT, SANTO, SANTS, SATAI, SATAY, SATIN, SATIS, SAULT, SAUNT, SAUTS, VANTS, VASTS, VASTY, VATAS, VATOS, VATUS, VAUTS, WADTS, WAFTS, WAITS, WANTS, WASTS, WATTS, ZATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 414.45. Information: 5.74 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test PATAS against the 97 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    97 before → 19 after. This feedback leaves 19 candidates.

    All 19 surviving candidates

    BATHS, BATOS, BATTS, DATOS, GATHS, JATIS, JATOS, KATIS, LATHS, LATUS, MATHS, MATTS, NATIS, OATHS, SATIS, VATOS, VATUS, WATTS, ZATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 3.305. Information: 0.742 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test OATHS against the 19 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    19 before → 10 after. This feedback leaves 10 candidates.

    All 10 surviving candidates

    BATTS, JATIS, KATIS, LATUS, MATTS, NATIS, SATIS, VATUS, WATTS, ZATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 7.0. Information: 1.657 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test JATIS against the 10 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    10 before → 4 after. This feedback leaves 4 candidates.

    All 4 surviving candidates

    KATIS, NATIS, SATIS, ZATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 4.2. Information: 1.361 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test KATIS against the 4 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    4 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    KATIS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.5. Information: 0.811 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 5 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 5.

Continue this board in the Solver

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE12010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)9765
CRANE00100 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)148466
SLATE10110 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)12666
ADIEU10100 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)55055
STARE11100 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)18965
AUDIO10020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)23055
RAISE02110 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)7955
ROATE00110 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)28355
SALET12001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)14033
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 1 · 4 guesses: 0 · 5 guesses: 4 · 6 guesses: 4 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 1 · 4 guesses: 0 · 5 guesses: 6 · 6 guesses: 2 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 3–6 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

28 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include KITES, SITKA, KARTS, BATIK, KILTS, KITAB, TAKIS, SAKTI, KRAIT, KATAS. After their feedback, this answer is among the most likely survivors with at least half the model probability. This is an opportunity, not a guarantee. An opener that immediately solves is excluded.

Why this answer can be difficult

The worked board still allows 10 different answers at one later decision: GATHS, JATIS, KATIS, MATHS, MATTS, NATIS, SATIS, VATUS, WATTS, ZATIS. These are mechanical alternatives, not a judgement of vocabulary difficulty.

With TARSE, this policy takes 6 guesses in normal mode and 5 in Hard Mode. These are matched simulations, not reported player averages.

Vocabulary evidence and voluntary player results are reported separately from these solver observations.

Closest competing answers in this board

These words all fit the earlier feedback, rather than merely sharing similar spelling: GATHS, JATIS, KATIS, MATHS, MATTS, NATIS, SATIS, VATUS, WATTS, ZATIS.

A lesson from this route

Before JATIS, 10 words still fit. Its feedback left 4; check the full survivor list before choosing the next answer.

Try another opener or a different move

How this is calculated

The current policy checks all remaining candidates and up to 128 fixed probes. At six or fewer candidates it uses bounded lookahead, preferring modelled six-turn success, then speed among successes. Larger states use expected survivors as a heuristic. These are recommendations, not proofs of optimal play. Hard Mode retains green positions and revealed letter counts; it allows grey letters and a yellow in the same position. Candidate-only play is stricter.

Methods and limitations

Feedback distribution

KATIS can come back 82 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

437 answers
227 answers
199 answers
144 answers
141 answers
120 answers
84 answers
82 answers
80 answers
78 answers
59 answers
51 answers
43 answers
42 answers
38 answers
37 answers
37 answers
36 answers
34 answers
29 answers
28 answers
25 answers
24 answers
21 answers
18 answers
17 answers
16 answers
16 answers
15 answers
15 answers

Letter-value totals

Base letter-value totals for KATIS; these do not show whether either game accepts the word.

Scrabble

K5A1T1I1S1
Total: 9 points

Words With Friends

Total: 9 points

Scores shown are base values without double/triple letter or word bonuses.

Try next

DROLE DINER SPORE MORNE TROUT ROUET

Strategy after playing KATIS

What the solver recommends next for each way the board can respond to KATIS.

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing KATIS:

18% chance
Suggested:
DROLE
9% chance
Suggested:
DROLE
8% chance
Suggested:
DINER

Follow-ups for common patterns

Ranked follow-up guesses for the 10 most common feedback patterns.

18.3% →
DROLE 5.98 bits
9.5% →
DROLE 5.48 bits
8.3% →
DINER 5.41 bits
6.0% →
SPORE 5.27 bits
5.9% →
MORNE 4.71 bits
5.0% →
TROUT 5.28 bits
3.5% →
ROUET 4.75 bits
3.4% →
ALERT 4.74 bits
3.3% →
CHARE 4.74 bits
3.3% →
GRONE 4.45 bits

Research on KATIS

Game-tree analysis and word research for KATIS, with an explanation for each figure.

Optimal play

Opening with KATIS, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.71 guesses and ranks #5,505 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

No guaranteed hard-mode solve In hard mode, no strategy that opens with KATIS can guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.66, at or below the proven-optimal 3.71, because the two figures score different answer lists.

These figures come from exhaustive game-tree search and are exact for the NYT lists of July 2023 (3,158 answers). They do not use the site's working answer pool.

Familiarity and learning

Frequency
KATIS sits in the rare band of the wordfreq scale, appearing less than once per million words in the source corpus. Corpus frequency does not measure every reader’s familiarity.

Sources: Optimal-play values: Alex Selby's exhaustive Wordle analysis (MIT); Word frequency: wordfreq (data CC BY-SA 4.0).