PHOTY
PHOTY is an accepted guess. Its modelled answer likelihood is very unlikely; no globally completed appearance is recorded here.
No dictionary definition for PHOTY is recorded in our sourced data.
Meaning and pronunciation
We do not have a sourced definition for this word yet.
Use PHOTY in a puzzle
As an opener, it rules out about 89.7% of possible answers.
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
YesIncluded in the Wordle guess list used by our tools.
Earlier benchmark pool
NoMembership in the preserved uniform benchmark; it is not a future eligibility rule.
Past Wordle answer
No completed appearanceNo 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.
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See what the public sample says →How PHOTY performs as a guess
Wordle accepts PHOTY 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 73.5% of games, misses completely in 26.5%, and leaves about 246 possible answers on average.
In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #5,516 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.68 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.
Useful pattern pages
If you only know part of the word, start with one of these matching patterns.
First-turn measures
All four describe PHOTY 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.
As an opening guess: previous benchmark
How PHOTY 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.
Composition
Feedback chances
When PHOTY is useful later
PHOTY tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 3 of 54 sampled positions where it was legal. This designed sample is not a measure of how often real players should use it.
After TARSE: 3 candidates, normal mode
TARSE: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
BUNDE: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
OXIME: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
LEEZE: 12002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
Remaining answers: HELVE, PEPLE, WELKE.
With a budget of 2 more guesses, PHOTY 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 SolverAfter SLATE: 3 candidates, normal mode
SLATE: 10100 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
RASPS: 01002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
AIGAS: 02022 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
MINAS: 22022 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
Remaining answers: MICAS, MIHAS, MIYAS.
With a budget of 2 more guesses, PHOTY 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 SolverAfter RAISE: 5 candidates, normal mode
RAISE: 00011 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
OUEDS: 00202 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
ENEWS: 01202 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
GLENS: 00222 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).
Remaining answers: HYENS, SKENS, STENS, SYENS, THENS.
With a budget of 2 more guesses, PHOTY 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 SolverSample 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 the solver finds PHOTY
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.
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The fixed opener tests its five letters.
14,855 before → 311 after. This feedback leaves 311 candidates.
All 311 surviving candidates
BHOOT, BIGHT, BIGOT, BINIT, BIONT, BITCH, BITOU, BITTY, BLITZ, BLUNT, BOOTH, BOOTY, BOTCH, BOTHY, BOTTY, BOULT, BOUTU, BOXTY, BUFTY, BUILT, BUNDT, BUNTY, BUTCH, BUTOH, BUTTY, BUTUT, BUTYL, CHITI, CHOTT, CHOUT, CINCT, CLIFT, CLINT, CLIPT, CLOOT, CLOTH, CLOUT, COBOT, COMPT, CONTO, COOPT, COOTY, COTCH, COUNT, COUTH, CUBIT, CULTI, CULTY, CUNIT, CUTCH, CUTIN, CUTTO, CUTTY, CUTUP, CWTCH, CYTON, DHOTI, DHUTI, DICHT, DICOT, DICTO, DICTU, DICTY, DIGHT, DIGIT, DITCH, DITTO, DITTY, DITZY, DIVOT, DIXIT, DOCHT, DOILT, DONUT, DOTTY, DOUBT, DUCTI, DUTCH, FIFTH, FIFTY, FIGHT, FILTH, FITCH, FITLY, FIXIT, FLINT, FLITT, FLOUT, FLUTY, FLUYT, FOOTY, FOUNT, FOUTH, FOWTH, FULTH, FUTON, GIGOT, GITCH, GLIFT, GLINT, GLITZ, GLOUT, GOTCH, GOTHY, GOUTY, GUILT, GUTTY, GUYOT, HIGHT, HITCH, HOOTY, HOTCH, HOTLY, HOTTY, HOWTO, HUTCH, ICTIC, IDDUT, IDIOT, ILLTH, IMMIT, IMPOT, INCUT, INGOT, INNIT, INPUT, INTIL, INWIT, ITCHY, JIGOT, JITTY, JOINT, JOLTY, JONTY, JOTTY, JOTUN, JUNTO, JUTTY, KIGHT, KILTY, KITTY, KITUL, KLUTZ, KNOUT, KOTCH, KOTOW, KUTCH, LICHT, LICIT, LIGHT, LILTY, LIMIT, LINTY, LITHO, LOFTY, LOTIC, LOTTO, LOWTH, LYTIC, MICHT, MIFTY, MIGHT, MILTY, MILTZ, MINTY, MITCH, MOITY, MOLTO, MONTH, MONTY, MOOTH, MOTHY, MOTIF, MOTON, MOTTO, MOTTY, MOULT, MOUNT, MOUTH, MUFTI, MUKTI, MULCT, MUNTU, MUTCH, MUTIC, MUTON, MUTTI, MUTUM, MYTHI, MYTHY, NICHT, NIFTY, NIGHT, NINTH, NITID, NITON, NITTO, NITTY, NOINT, NOOIT, NOTCH, NOTUM, NOWTY, NUTTY, OBIIT, OCTIC, OCTLI, OCTYL, ONTIC, OOBIT, OOTID, OPTIC, OPZIT, OTHYL, OTIUM, OUBIT, OUCHT, OUGHT, OUTBY, OUTDO, OUTGO, PFFTT, PHOTO, PHOTY, PHPHT, PHUTU, PICOT, PIGHT, PILOT, PINOT, PINTO, PIPIT, PITCH, PITHY, PITON, PITOT, PITTU, PIVOT, PIYUT, PLOIT, PLOOT, PLOTZ, PLOUT, PLOWT, PLUOT, PLUTO, PLUTY, POINT, POKIT, PONTO, PONTY, POOTY, POTCH, POTIN, POTOO, POTTO, POTTY, POULT, POUPT, POUTY, POWLT, POYNT, PULUT, PUNTO, PUNTY, PUTID, PUTIN, PUTON, PUTTI, PUTTO, PUTTU, PUTTY, QUBIT, QUILT, QUINT, QUOIT, QUOTH, UBITY, UMPTY, UNCUT, UNFIT, UNGOT, UNITY, UNKUT, UNLIT, UNPOT, UNPUT, UNTIL, UNTIN, UNWIT, UPLIT, VOLTI, VOMIT, VUTTY, WHIFT, WHIPT, WHITY, WHOOT, WIDTH, WIFTY, WIGHT, WITCH, WITHY, WITTY, WOOTZ, YMOLT, YOUTH, ZITTY, ZIZIT, ZLOTY, ZOOTY
Decision measures before feedback
Expected remaining candidates: 414.45. Information: 5.74 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.
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Test LITHO against the 311 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.
311 before → 15 after. This feedback leaves 15 candidates.
All 15 surviving candidates
BHOOT, BOOTH, CHOTT, CHOUT, COUTH, FOUTH, FOWTH, HOOTY, MONTH, MOOTH, MOUTH, PHOTY, QUOTH, WHOOT, YOUTH
Decision measures before feedback
Expected remaining candidates: 10.185. Information: 4.295 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.
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Test CHOUT against the 15 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.
15 before → 1 after. This feedback leaves 1 candidate.
All 1 surviving candidates
PHOTY
Decision measures before feedback
Expected remaining candidates: 1.032. Information: 0.856 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.
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Submit the only remaining candidate.
1 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.
All 1 surviving candidates
PHOTY
Decision measures before feedback
Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.
Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 3.
Continue this board in the SolverHard Mode
Our solver: bounded weighted policy. Current-pool replay over 14,855 accepted words. Model through 2026-11-05.
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The fixed opener tests its five letters.
14,855 before → 311 after. This feedback leaves 311 candidates.
All 311 surviving candidates
BHOOT, BIGHT, BIGOT, BINIT, BIONT, BITCH, BITOU, BITTY, BLITZ, BLUNT, BOOTH, BOOTY, BOTCH, BOTHY, BOTTY, BOULT, BOUTU, BOXTY, BUFTY, BUILT, BUNDT, BUNTY, BUTCH, BUTOH, BUTTY, BUTUT, BUTYL, CHITI, CHOTT, CHOUT, CINCT, CLIFT, CLINT, CLIPT, CLOOT, CLOTH, CLOUT, COBOT, COMPT, CONTO, COOPT, COOTY, COTCH, COUNT, COUTH, CUBIT, CULTI, CULTY, CUNIT, CUTCH, CUTIN, CUTTO, CUTTY, CUTUP, CWTCH, CYTON, DHOTI, DHUTI, DICHT, DICOT, DICTO, DICTU, DICTY, DIGHT, DIGIT, DITCH, DITTO, DITTY, DITZY, DIVOT, DIXIT, DOCHT, DOILT, DONUT, DOTTY, DOUBT, DUCTI, DUTCH, FIFTH, FIFTY, FIGHT, FILTH, FITCH, FITLY, FIXIT, FLINT, FLITT, FLOUT, FLUTY, FLUYT, FOOTY, FOUNT, FOUTH, FOWTH, FULTH, FUTON, GIGOT, GITCH, GLIFT, GLINT, GLITZ, GLOUT, GOTCH, GOTHY, GOUTY, GUILT, GUTTY, GUYOT, HIGHT, HITCH, HOOTY, HOTCH, HOTLY, HOTTY, HOWTO, HUTCH, ICTIC, IDDUT, IDIOT, ILLTH, IMMIT, IMPOT, INCUT, INGOT, INNIT, INPUT, INTIL, INWIT, ITCHY, JIGOT, JITTY, JOINT, JOLTY, JONTY, JOTTY, JOTUN, JUNTO, JUTTY, KIGHT, KILTY, KITTY, KITUL, KLUTZ, KNOUT, KOTCH, KOTOW, KUTCH, LICHT, LICIT, LIGHT, LILTY, LIMIT, LINTY, LITHO, LOFTY, LOTIC, LOTTO, LOWTH, LYTIC, MICHT, MIFTY, MIGHT, MILTY, MILTZ, MINTY, MITCH, MOITY, MOLTO, MONTH, MONTY, MOOTH, MOTHY, MOTIF, MOTON, MOTTO, MOTTY, MOULT, MOUNT, MOUTH, MUFTI, MUKTI, MULCT, MUNTU, MUTCH, MUTIC, MUTON, MUTTI, MUTUM, MYTHI, MYTHY, NICHT, NIFTY, NIGHT, NINTH, NITID, NITON, NITTO, NITTY, NOINT, NOOIT, NOTCH, NOTUM, NOWTY, NUTTY, OBIIT, OCTIC, OCTLI, OCTYL, ONTIC, OOBIT, OOTID, OPTIC, OPZIT, OTHYL, OTIUM, OUBIT, OUCHT, OUGHT, OUTBY, OUTDO, OUTGO, PFFTT, PHOTO, PHOTY, PHPHT, PHUTU, PICOT, PIGHT, PILOT, PINOT, PINTO, PIPIT, PITCH, PITHY, PITON, PITOT, PITTU, PIVOT, PIYUT, PLOIT, PLOOT, PLOTZ, PLOUT, PLOWT, PLUOT, PLUTO, PLUTY, POINT, POKIT, PONTO, PONTY, POOTY, POTCH, POTIN, POTOO, POTTO, POTTY, POULT, POUPT, POUTY, POWLT, POYNT, PULUT, PUNTO, PUNTY, PUTID, PUTIN, PUTON, PUTTI, PUTTO, PUTTU, PUTTY, QUBIT, QUILT, QUINT, QUOIT, QUOTH, UBITY, UMPTY, UNCUT, UNFIT, UNGOT, UNITY, UNKUT, UNLIT, UNPOT, UNPUT, UNTIL, UNTIN, UNWIT, UPLIT, VOLTI, VOMIT, VUTTY, WHIFT, WHIPT, WHITY, WHOOT, WIDTH, WIFTY, WIGHT, WITCH, WITHY, WITTY, WOOTZ, YMOLT, YOUTH, ZITTY, ZIZIT, ZLOTY, ZOOTY
Decision measures before feedback
Expected remaining candidates: 414.45. Information: 5.74 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.
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Test LITHO against the 311 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.
311 before → 15 after. This feedback leaves 15 candidates.
All 15 surviving candidates
BHOOT, BOOTH, CHOTT, CHOUT, COUTH, FOUTH, FOWTH, HOOTY, MONTH, MOOTH, MOUTH, PHOTY, QUOTH, WHOOT, YOUTH
Decision measures before feedback
Expected remaining candidates: 10.185. Information: 4.295 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.
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Test CHOUT against the 15 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.
15 before → 1 after. This feedback leaves 1 candidate.
All 1 surviving candidates
PHOTY
Decision measures before feedback
Expected remaining candidates: 1.032. Information: 0.856 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.
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Submit the only remaining candidate.
1 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.
All 1 surviving candidates
PHOTY
Decision measures before feedback
Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.
Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 3.
Continue this board in the SolverHow the fixed opener panel performs on this answer
| Opener | First feedback | Survivors | Normal | Hard Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TARSE | 10000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 311 | 4 | 4 |
| CRANE | 00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 1787 | 5 | 5 |
| SLATE | 00020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 150 | 3 | 3 |
| ADIEU | 00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 1140 | 5 | 5 |
| STARE | 01000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 399 | 4 | 4 |
| AUDIO | 00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 1784 | 4 | 4 |
| RAISE | 00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 750 | 4 | 4 |
| ROATE | 01020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 43 | 4 | 4 |
| SALET | 00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green) | 323 | 4 | 4 |
- Normal mode
- 1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 1 · 4 guesses: 6 · 5 guesses: 2 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0
- Hard Mode
- 1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 1 · 4 guesses: 6 · 5 guesses: 2 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0
The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 3–5 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.
46 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include YOUTH, FORTY, HEFTY, PHONY, LOFTY, HASTY, POTTY, THYME, HOTLY, PITHY. 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.
A lesson from this route
This route identifies the answer on turn 3. Identifying a unique candidate and submitting it are separate actions.
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.
Feedback distribution
PHOTY can come back 98 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:
Letter-value totals
Base letter-value totals for PHOTY; these do not show whether either game accepts the word.
Scrabble
Words With Friends
Scores shown are base values without double/triple letter or word bonuses.
Try next
Strategy after playing PHOTY
What the solver recommends next for each way the board can respond to PHOTY.
Quick reference
Largest feedback groups after playing PHOTY:
Research on PHOTY
Game-tree analysis and word research for PHOTY, with an explanation for each figure.
Optimal play
Opening with PHOTY, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.72 guesses and ranks #6,136 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.
In hard mode it averages 3.86 guesses at best and is rank #3,094 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.
Our six-turn simulation says 3.68, at or below the proven-optimal 3.72, 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.
Sources: Optimal-play values: Alex Selby's exhaustive Wordle analysis (MIT).