Double Letter Words in Wordle: How to Spot and Solve Them

Double letters trip up even good players.

You've eliminated everything. Nothing fits. Then you realize: a letter repeats.

Too late. You've wasted 2 guesses.

This guide helps you spot doubles early—and solve them faster.

How Common Are Double Letters in Wordle?

About 20% of Wordle answers contain repeated letters.

That's roughly 1 in 5 puzzles. You'll see them regularly.

Common examples: TEETH, FLOOD, SHEEP, ABBEY, VIVID

Ignoring this possibility costs you games.

Which Letters Repeat Most Often?

Not all letters double equally.

Most Common Doubles

Rare Doubles

These almost never repeat:

Focus on common letters when considering repeats.

When to Consider Double Letters

You should think about doubles when:

1. Nothing Fits Your Pattern

You have 4 confirmed letters. No valid word works.

This is the clearest signal. A letter probably repeats.

2. You Have Multiple Yellows of the Same Letter

If E shows yellow twice in different positions—it's likely in the word twice.

3. The Answer "Feels" Short

Some patterns seem too short:

Recognize these structures.

4. You're on Guess 4+

Late game with no solution? Consider doubles before random guessing.

How Wordle Shows Double Letters

Wordle's feedback for doubles can confuse players.

Key Rules

Rule 1: If you guess a letter once and it appears twice, you get ONE hint (green or yellow).

Rule 2: If you guess a letter twice and it appears twice, BOTH show hints.

Rule 3: If you guess a letter twice but it only appears once, ONE shows gray.

Example

Answer: TEETH

This is why doubles hide themselves.

Strategy: Finding Hidden Doubles

Step 1: Notice the Gap

If your confirmed letters don't form any valid word, ask:

"Could a letter I've already found appear twice?"

Step 2: Check Common Doubles

Run through the most likely repeat letters:

Which could fit your pattern?

Step 3: Test With a Double-Letter Word

Guess a word that uses a likely repeat. This confirms or eliminates the possibility.

Example:

Pattern: _EE__ (first letter unknown)

Possible answers: TEETH, GEESE, STEEL, CREEP, SPEED

Guess TEETH. If wrong, you've tested T and H. If right, you win.

Common Double Letter Patterns

Learn these structures. They appear constantly.

Double Vowels

Double Consonants

Position Patterns

Middle doubles are most common.

Starting Words That Reveal Doubles

Some starting words test doubles from guess 1.

Words With Repeated Letters

Why This Can Help

If you start with SPEED and get two E hints, you know E repeats.

The downside? You test fewer unique letters.

Recommendation: Don't start with doubles. But consider them by guess 3.

The Double Letter Decision Tree

Use this mental framework:

Guess 1-2: Focus on unique letters. Gather info.

Guess 3: Evaluate your pattern. If gaps exist, consider doubles.

Guess 4+: If nothing fits, doubles become likely. Test one.

Guess 5-6: Commit to a double if it's the only explanation. Don't waste guesses.

Hard Mode and Double Letters

Hard Mode makes doubles extra tricky.

The Problem

You must use confirmed letters. If E is yellow, every guess needs E.

But if E appears twice, you might not realize until guess 5.

The Solution

In Hard Mode, consider doubles EARLIER.

By guess 3, actively ask: "Could any confirmed letter repeat?"

Testing this early saves guesses.

FAQ

How do I know if a Wordle answer has double letters?

You'll often realize when nothing fits your pattern. Consider letters that could repeat.

What percentage of Wordle answers have double letters?

About 20%—roughly 1 in 5 puzzles.

Should I start with a double-letter word?

Generally, no. Starting with unique letters provides more information. Consider doubles by guess 3.

Do double letters include letters at the start and end?

Yes. A word like EERIE has E at positions 1, 2, and 5. All count as repeats.

What's the hardest double-letter Wordle?

Words like VIVID, TEETH, and ABBEY often stump players because doubles hide until late.

How does Wordle show hints for double letters?

If you guess one instance of a double letter, you get one hint. Guess two and you might see one gray (if only one exists).

Practice Recognizing Doubles

Train yourself with these exercises:

Exercise 1: Pattern Spotting

Look at this pattern: _EE_E

What words fit? (GEESE, TEETH? No—TEETH is _EE_H)

Practice mentally filling patterns with doubles.

Exercise 2: Review Past Answers

Check past Wordle answers and count how many had doubles. You'll see it's common.

Exercise 3: Double-First Challenge

Play a practice Wordle starting with SPEED. Track how doubles reveal themselves.

Summary

Double letters appear in ~20% of Wordle answers.

To handle them:

Don't let repeating letters catch you off guard.

Now you know what to look for. Your solve rate will improve.

Happy solving.