Does every guess have to be a real word?

Yes. A guess must be a word from the game's word list, so random strings of letters are refused.

How do I type French accents and Arabic hamza?

Type French accents as plain letters (é = e). In Arabic, type أ إ آ as ا, ؤ as و, and ئ or ى as ي.

Who wins a word in a duel if both of us solve it?

The player who used fewer tries. With the same number of tries, the one who solved it faster wins.

How to Win at Word Duel: Best Openers and Duel Tips

Word Duel gives you six tries to find a hidden word, and in a duel you race a rival on the same word. Good players do not guess wildly: they pick an opener that tests common letters, then use every clue on the next guess. This guide covers strong first words in each language, how to read the clues and how to win the race.

Word Duel
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Open with common letters

In English the most frequent letters in the answers are E, A, R, O, T, L, S and I, so openers such as SLATE or CRANE test five of the best at once. In French, E appears in most answers and is very often the last letter, followed by R, A, I and T, so try a word such as TARIE or AIRES. Type French accents as plain letters.

Arabic words have four letters. Ra, alif and mim are the most common, and ta marbuta (ة) only ever appears at the end, where it closes about a quarter of all answers. A word such as راية tests ra, alif, ya and ta marbuta in one go.

Use every clue on the next guess

A square is the right letter in the right spot, so keep it there. A circle is in the word but somewhere else, so move it to a new spot. A dark tile is not in the word at all, so never use that letter again. Your second guess should obey all of these and, where possible, try new common letters too.

When you are stuck, think in patterns

If you have most of the letters but several words still fit, do not guess them one by one. Look at the spots that are still open and think of common endings, and remember that a letter can appear twice. With plenty of tries left, a guess that tests several of the possible letters at once is often faster than a lucky shot.

Win the race in a duel

In a duel, fewer tries wins the word, and with the same number of tries the faster player wins. You can see your rival's squares and circles as they play, but not their letters. If your rival solved it in four tries, you must solve it in three, so take a bold guess. If you are ahead, play safe and steady.

Matches are played as one word, best of 3 or best of 5, so one bad word is not the end. Against the computer, start on Easy and work up to Hard, which solves quickly and rarely wastes a try.

Practise, then keep your streak

Practice mode gives you as many words as you like, the best way to learn which letters and patterns come up. The daily word is the same for everyone in each language and changes at midnight, and your streak counts the days in a row you solve it. When you are ready, challenge a friend online on the same word.

Questions

Does every guess have to be a real word?: Yes. A guess must be a word from the game's word list, so random strings of letters are refused.
How do I type French accents and Arabic hamza?: Type French accents as plain letters (é = e). In Arabic, type أ إ آ as ا, ؤ as و, and ئ or ى as ي.
Who wins a word in a duel if both of us solve it?: The player who used fewer tries. With the same number of tries, the one who solved it faster wins.

Word Duel
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