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

RANAS

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Proper noun

plural of Rana

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

Use RANAS in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 92.9% of possible answers.

Open Solver with RANAS 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 RANAS performs as a guess

Wordle accepts RANAS 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 82.3% of games, misses completely in 17.7%, and leaves about 169 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #6,760 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.70 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.

R___S R in the 1st position and S in the 5th position R__A_ R in the 1st position and A in the 4th position _A__S A in the 2nd position and S in the 5th position RA_AS R in the 1st position, A in the 2nd position, A in the 4th position, and S in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe RANAS 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.

4.65 Entropy (bits)
169 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
92.9% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How RANAS 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.

3.70 Avg guesses
99.92% Solved within six
0.70 Spread of game lengths
#6,760 Rank among openers
Opening with RANAS left 2 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.70 means those games clustered within about 0.70 of a guess of the 3.70 average. It ranks #6,760 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
49
3 guesses
871
4 guesses
1,192
5 guesses
221
6 guesses
19

Composition

4/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
ANRS

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
82%
Green tile
28%
All gray
18%

When RANAS is useful later

RANAS tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 2 of 54 sampled positions where it was legal. This designed sample is not a measure of how often real players should use it.

After STARE: 4 candidates, normal mode

STARE: 02110 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: ATRIA, ATRIP, ATTAR, OTTAR.

With a budget of 5 more guesses, RANAS 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, RANAS 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 RANAS

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 → 62 after. This feedback leaves 62 candidates.

    All 62 surviving candidates

    BAURS, BAWRS, DAURS, FAIRS, GAIRS, GAURS, HAARS, HAIRS, LAIRS, MAARS, MAHRS, MAIRS, MASUR, MAWRS, PAIRS, PASAR, RAADS, RABIS, RACKS, RAFFS, RAGAS, RAGGS, RAGIS, RAGUS, RAIAS, RAIDS, RAIKS, RAILS, RAINS, RAJAS, RAKIS, RAKUS, RAMIS, RAMPS, RAMUS, RANAS, RANDS, RANGS, RANIS, RANKS, RANNS, RASAM, RASAS, RASPS, RASPY, RAUNS, RAWKS, RAWNS, RAYAS, RAYLS, SABIR, SABRA, SACRA, SAGAR, SAIRS, SAPOR, SAURY, SAVOR, VAIRS, WAIRS, WAURS, YAARS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test RAIAS against the 62 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    62 before → 5 after. This feedback leaves 5 candidates.

    All 5 surviving candidates

    RAGAS, RAJAS, RANAS, RASAS, RAYAS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.404. Information: 0.522 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test SAGES against the 5 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    5 before → 3 after. This feedback leaves 3 candidates.

    All 3 surviving candidates

    RAJAS, RANAS, RAYAS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.2. Information: 1.371 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test RAJAS against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    3 before → 2 after. This feedback leaves 2 candidates.

    All 2 surviving candidates

    RANAS, RAYAS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.667. Information: 0.918 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test RANAS against the 2 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    RANAS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 1.0 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

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 → 62 after. This feedback leaves 62 candidates.

    All 62 surviving candidates

    BAURS, BAWRS, DAURS, FAIRS, GAIRS, GAURS, HAARS, HAIRS, LAIRS, MAARS, MAHRS, MAIRS, MASUR, MAWRS, PAIRS, PASAR, RAADS, RABIS, RACKS, RAFFS, RAGAS, RAGGS, RAGIS, RAGUS, RAIAS, RAIDS, RAIKS, RAILS, RAINS, RAJAS, RAKIS, RAKUS, RAMIS, RAMPS, RAMUS, RANAS, RANDS, RANGS, RANIS, RANKS, RANNS, RASAM, RASAS, RASPS, RASPY, RAUNS, RAWKS, RAWNS, RAYAS, RAYLS, SABIR, SABRA, SACRA, SAGAR, SAIRS, SAPOR, SAURY, SAVOR, VAIRS, WAIRS, WAURS, YAARS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test RAIAS against the 62 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    62 before → 5 after. This feedback leaves 5 candidates.

    All 5 surviving candidates

    RAGAS, RAJAS, RANAS, RASAS, RAYAS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.404. Information: 0.522 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test RAGAS against the 5 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 4 surviving candidates

    RAJAS, RANAS, RASAS, RAYAS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 3.4. Information: 0.722 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test RAJAS against the 4 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    4 before → 3 after. This feedback leaves 3 candidates.

    All 3 surviving candidates

    RANAS, RASAS, RAYAS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  5. Test RANAS against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    RANAS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.667. Information: 0.918 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
TARSE02110 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)6255
CRANE01110 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)8754
SLATE10100 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)68566
ADIEU10000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)201955
STARE10110 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)17643
AUDIO10000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)251333
RAISE22010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)3222
ROATE20100 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)9944
SALET12000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)46633
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 1 · 3 guesses: 2 · 4 guesses: 2 · 5 guesses: 3 · 6 guesses: 1 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 1 · 3 guesses: 3 · 4 guesses: 2 · 5 guesses: 2 · 6 guesses: 1 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 2–6 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

17 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include RENAL, SONAR, SARAN, RATAN, RANGA, REMAN, NARRA, SCRAN, REDAN, RERAN. 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 answer contains 2 copies of A. Feedback allocates exact matches before misplaced copies; a grey duplicate does not erase another coloured copy.

The worked board still allows 5 different answers at one later decision: RAGAS, RAJAS, RANAS, RASAS, RAYAS. These are mechanical alternatives, not a judgement of vocabulary difficulty.

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: RAGAS, RAJAS, RANAS, RASAS, RAYAS.

A lesson from this route

Before SAGES, 5 words still fit. Its feedback left 3; 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

RANAS can come back 87 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

424 answers
292 answers
208 answers
140 answers
125 answers
99 answers
96 answers
87 answers
83 answers
67 answers
59 answers
57 answers
55 answers
47 answers
46 answers
46 answers
35 answers
31 answers
26 answers
24 answers
22 answers
22 answers
18 answers
16 answers
15 answers
14 answers
13 answers
13 answers
12 answers
12 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

R1A1N1A1S1
Total: 5 points

Words With Friends

Total: 6 points

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

Try next

TOILE STILE CLOTE BLITE TRACE SUITE

Strategy after playing RANAS

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing RANAS:

18% chance
Suggested:
TOILE
12% chance
Suggested:
TOILE
9% chance
Suggested:
STILE

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

17.7% →
TOILE 6.10 bits
12.2% →
TOILE 5.29 bits
8.7% →
STILE 5.47 bits
5.9% →
TOILE 5.45 bits
5.2% →
CLOTE 5.27 bits
4.1% →
BLITE 4.70 bits
4.0% →
TRACE 4.66 bits
3.6% →
SUITE 4.73 bits
3.5% →
THALE 4.69 bits
2.8% →
HINGE 4.09 bits

Research on RANAS

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

Optimal play

Opening with RANAS, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.73 guesses and ranks #6,897 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

In hard mode it averages 3.87 guesses at best and is rank #3,373 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.70, at or below the proven-optimal 3.73, 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
RANAS 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).