A1–B1 Vocabulary Spelling

Wörtlein - Guess the Hidden German Word

Wörtlein

Six tries to guess the hidden German word.

What you're practicing

Wörtlein is the German word-guessing game. You get six tries to find a hidden German word, and after every guess the letters turn green, pink or grey to show how close you were. Pick four, five or six letters depending on how brave you feel. If you get stuck, three hints help you out: a letter, the English meaning, or the word's category (animal, food, material and more). Every round ends by showing the word with its meaning and, for nouns, its der/die/das - so even a miss teaches you something.

German spelling includes ä, ö, ü and ß. Writing the exact letters matters: schön and schon are different words. The colour feedback lets you check which letters belong in the answer.

The more you play this game, the better you will be able to spell familiar German words in short messages, shopping lists and searches. Read the revealed word and its meaning after each round.

Try one puzzle during a wait, or add a round to a daily habit. Use a hint whenever you need it.

Frequently asked questions

What do you practice in Wörtlein?

Everyday German words and how to spell them. Because you have to type real words to make a guess, you pull vocabulary out of memory instead of just recognising it - and that is what makes words stick. Each answer also shows its part of speech and, for nouns, its article.

How do the colours work?

Green means the letter is right and in the right place. Pink means the letter is in the word but somewhere else. Grey means the letter is not in the word at all. The keyboard keeps track of the colours for you, so you can reason your way to the answer.

Do umlauts and ß count as letters?

Yes, and that is deliberate. Ä, Ö, Ü and ß each count as one letter and sit on the German keyboard right there in the game, so schön and schon are different words. It trains you to spell German the way Germans actually write it.

What level of German is this for?

A1 to B1. The four-letter round uses simple everyday nouns and adjectives, five letters covers broad everyday vocabulary, and six letters leans on verbs - including the ones you need most in conversation.

What if I get stuck?

Each round gives you three hints you can use once: a letter that is in the word, the English meaning, or the word's category (animal, food, material and more). Using them costs nothing except a note on your result card.

Can I play it on my phone, and does it work offline?

Yes. It opens in any modern browser on phone, tablet or desktop without an account and no download, and once the page has loaded you can keep playing without a connection - handy on the train.