Today's NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1661, and this Monday challenge serves up a straightforward noun with common letters but a double consonant that could trip up pattern recognition. Whether you're protecting a legendary streak or starting fresh, we've got the hints to guide you home.
The Basics (For New Players)
Wordle gives you six attempts to crack a five-letter word. After each guess, tiles change color: green means right letter, right spot; yellow signals right letter, wrong position; gray indicates the letter isn't in the word at all. One puzzle per day, shared by millions worldwide. That's the beauty of it.
Created by Josh Wardle in 2021 and now part of The New York Times Games family, Wordle has become a daily ritual for word lovers everywhere. Today's puzzle #1661 awaits.
The Letter Rundown
Today's puzzle breaks down like this:
Vowel Count: 1 vowel(s)
Consonant Count: 4 consonant(s)
Repeated Letters: Yes - the letter L appears twice
Letter Rarity: All common letters
The Elimination Game (Progressive Hints)
We've designed these hints to reveal just enough at each level. Stop when you've got it figured out.
Level 1 (The Vibe): Think equestrian pursuits and youth.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a noun. It's something you might find in a stable.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with F, ends with Y.
Level 4 (The Structure): Contains a double consonant in the middle.
Level 5 (The Giveaway): A young female horse, not yet a mare.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: F
Last Letter: Y
Vowels Present: I
Double Letters: YES
Rhymes With: SILLY, CHILLY, HILLY
Today's Wordle Answer
Final warning: The answer is directly below. Scroll only if you're ready.
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The answer to Wordle #1661 is: FILLY
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
FILLY noun. A young female horse, especially one less than four years old.
Origins: Derived from Old Norse "fylja" meaning "foal" or "young horse," entering English through Middle English.
Word Family: Filly (singular), Fillies (plural)
Fun Fact: In horse racing terminology, a filly is specifically a female horse under four years old, while a mare is four or older.
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 2 / 5
Trap Factor: LOW. Common letters and familiar pattern make this accessible.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
FILLY presents minimal challenge for seasoned players. All letters are common, the F-start isn't particularly tricky, and the double-L pattern is recognizable. The main difficulty comes from the double consonant, which can sometimes cause players to overlook the second L after finding the first. This is a Monday-level puzzle that rewards standard openers.
What This Puzzle Teaches
Double letters often hide in plain sight. When you identify one L (or any letter), always consider whether there might be a second instance in the word. This pattern recognition separates average solvers from experts.
Words ending in Y are statistically common in Wordle, especially for nouns and adjectives. When you have Y in the final position, prioritize common Y-ending words in your mental dictionary.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1662 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's FILLY catch you off guard, or did you crack it in three? Either way, every Wordle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at midnight for the next challenge.
