Is this the New York Times Spelling Bee?

No. It plays by the same kind of rules, seven letters with one required in the centre, but the puzzles are generated on this page from the ENABLE word list and none is copied from a newspaper. It has no affiliation with any official Spelling Bee. Because ENABLE is a large public domain list rather than an edited answer list, it accepts some words a published puzzle would leave out, and some of them will be unfamiliar.

How are words scored?

A 4-letter word scores 1 point, a longer word scores 1 point per letter, and a pangram, a word that uses all seven letters, scores 7 more. With H in the centre and A M N O R Y around it, HORN scores 1, HOORAY scores 6 and HARMONY scores 7 + 7 = 14. That board holds 33 words worth 136 points in all. A word you have already found scores nothing the second time, and every accepted word is listed under the board with the sum that produced its points.

Why was my word not accepted?

The game always says which rule the word broke: it has a character that is not a letter, it is shorter than the minimum, it uses a letter that is not one of the seven, it does not contain the centre letter, you have already found it, or it is not in the ENABLE list. Letters may repeat as often as a word needs, so a repeated letter is never the reason. A real word that ENABLE does not hold is refused, which is the one limit of checking against a fixed list.

How does the daily puzzle work?

The daily puzzle is made from the date on your device, so everyone who plays on the same date gets the same seven letters and the same answer list. Daily No. 1 was 22 September 2026. Each daily you play is kept in Your puzzles on this page, so you can finish it later, but there is no archive of days you did not open.

Can I play more than one puzzle a day?

Yes. Unlimited deals a fresh puzzle whenever you press New puzzle and shows its number, from 1 to 999,999. Typing a number and choosing Play number deals that exact puzzle, so you can go back to one or send the number to a friend and compare scores. A number you have played before opens where you left it. Generated puzzles always hold at least one pangram, leave S out of the seven so plurals cannot pad the list, and aim for between 20 and 60 words.

Can I make a puzzle from my own letters?

Yes. Choose Your letters, type the centre letter and the six others, and pick the shortest word that counts: 4, 5 or 6 letters. Every ENABLE word those letters allow becomes the answer list. The seven letters must all be different, and if no word in the list fits them the game says so and asks you to change a letter instead of starting an empty puzzle.

What do the hints show?

Counts, never words. The board shows the longest length still to find and how many words have it. Show hints opens a table counting the words left by first letter and length, and the number left for each pair of first two letters. When you want to stop, Reveal answers asks first, then ends the puzzle and lists the words you missed, which do not score.

Is my progress saved, and is anything sent anywhere?

Your last 40 puzzles, with the words you found, are kept in this browser only, and Start over at the top of the page forgets them. The page makes one request, to this site, for the ENABLE list, 1.7 MB, the first time you play in a visit. Every word is checked in your browser, and nothing you type or find is uploaded. Copy summary gives your score and the letters, never the answers.

Seven-Letter Word Game

Make words from seven letters, always using the one in the centre, and score them as you go. Puzzles are generated here from ENABLE, a public domain list of 172,823 words, rather than copied from a newspaper: play the daily puzzle, deal unlimited numbered puzzles that anyone can replay by typing the same number, or type seven letters of your own and choose the shortest word that counts. A refused word always gets a reason, each accepted word shows how its points add up, the hints count what is left by first letter and length without showing a word, and your last 40 puzzles are kept in this browser so you can pick one up later.

Seven letters, one in the middle

Make words of four letters or more from the seven. Every word uses the centre letter, and letters can repeat.

ENABLE list, 172,823 wordsOriginal puzzles, made hereNo account, nothing uploadedProgress kept in this browser

Choose a puzzle

Puzzle

Today: The date on this device

The daily puzzle is made from the date on this device, so everyone playing on the same date gets the same seven letters. Words are four letters or more.

How it plays. Every word is at least four letters long (or the minimum you set for your own letters), contains the centre letter and uses only the seven on the board, and letters repeat as often as a word needs. A 4-letter word scores 1 point, a longer word 1 point per letter, and a pangram, a word using all seven letters, scores 7 more. A word found twice scores once. Generated puzzles always hold at least one pangram and leave S out of the seven.

Accuracy. Every word is checked against ENABLE, a public domain list of 172,823 words: an accepted word always contains the centre letter and uses only the seven letters, but a real word ENABLE lacks is refused, and being on the list does not make a word a familiar one. Puzzles are generated here from that list, not copied from any newspaper, and this game has no affiliation with any official Spelling Bee.

Common questions

Is this the New York Times Spelling Bee?: No. It plays by the same kind of rules, seven letters with one required in the centre, but the puzzles are generated on this page from the ENABLE word list and none is copied from a newspaper. It has no affiliation with any official Spelling Bee. Because ENABLE is a large public domain list rather than an edited answer list, it accepts some words a published puzzle would leave out, and some of them will be unfamiliar.
How are words scored?: A 4-letter word scores 1 point, a longer word scores 1 point per letter, and a pangram, a word that uses all seven letters, scores 7 more. With H in the centre and A M N O R Y around it, HORN scores 1, HOORAY scores 6 and HARMONY scores 7 + 7 = 14. That board holds 33 words worth 136 points in all. A word you have already found scores nothing the second time, and every accepted word is listed under the board with the sum that produced its points.
Why was my word not accepted?: The game always says which rule the word broke: it has a character that is not a letter, it is shorter than the minimum, it uses a letter that is not one of the seven, it does not contain the centre letter, you have already found it, or it is not in the ENABLE list. Letters may repeat as often as a word needs, so a repeated letter is never the reason. A real word that ENABLE does not hold is refused, which is the one limit of checking against a fixed list.
How does the daily puzzle work?: The daily puzzle is made from the date on your device, so everyone who plays on the same date gets the same seven letters and the same answer list. Daily No. 1 was 22 September 2026. Each daily you play is kept in Your puzzles on this page, so you can finish it later, but there is no archive of days you did not open.
Can I play more than one puzzle a day?: Yes. Unlimited deals a fresh puzzle whenever you press New puzzle and shows its number, from 1 to 999,999. Typing a number and choosing Play number deals that exact puzzle, so you can go back to one or send the number to a friend and compare scores. A number you have played before opens where you left it. Generated puzzles always hold at least one pangram, leave S out of the seven so plurals cannot pad the list, and aim for between 20 and 60 words.
Can I make a puzzle from my own letters?: Yes. Choose Your letters, type the centre letter and the six others, and pick the shortest word that counts: 4, 5 or 6 letters. Every ENABLE word those letters allow becomes the answer list. The seven letters must all be different, and if no word in the list fits them the game says so and asks you to change a letter instead of starting an empty puzzle.
What do the hints show?: Counts, never words. The board shows the longest length still to find and how many words have it. Show hints opens a table counting the words left by first letter and length, and the number left for each pair of first two letters. When you want to stop, Reveal answers asks first, then ends the puzzle and lists the words you missed, which do not score.
Is my progress saved, and is anything sent anywhere?: Your last 40 puzzles, with the words you found, are kept in this browser only, and Start over at the top of the page forgets them. The page makes one request, to this site, for the ENABLE list, 1.7 MB, the first time you play in a visit. Every word is checked in your browser, and nothing you type or find is uploaded. Copy summary gives your score and the letters, never the answers.

Every word is checked against ENABLE, a public domain list of 172,823 words: an accepted word always contains the centre letter and uses only the seven letters, but a real word ENABLE lacks is refused, and being on the list does not make a word a familiar one. Puzzles are generated here from that list, not copied from any newspaper, and this game has no affiliation with any official Spelling Bee.