WordGenerator

Word Ladder

Turn the top word into the bottom word by changing one letter at a time — every rung has to be a real four-letter word. Can you find the ladder?

Change — into —

    How to play

    A worked example

    The classic ladder turns COLD into WARM in four steps: COLD → CORD → WORD → WARD → WARM. Each rung changes exactly one letter and every rung is a real word. Notice how the changes march towards the target — first the third letter, then the first, then the second, then the last.

    How to find the ladder

    Work from both ends. Set the start and target words side by side and change the letters that already differ, one at a time, keeping every step a real word. When you get stuck, swapping a vowel (cat → cot → cut) often opens a new route, because changing the vowel lands on a pronounceable word more often than changing a consonant. There is usually more than one valid ladder; you only need to reach the target, not match the shortest path.

    A puzzle from Lewis Carroll

    The word ladder was invented by Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll, who called it "Doublets" and first published it in 1879. More than a century on it is still a favourite for building vocabulary and spelling, because every move makes you think about how words are built one letter at a time. Want more words to play with? See our list of four-letter words.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a word ladder?
    A word ladder (invented by Lewis Carroll) turns one word into another by changing a single letter at a time, where every step is itself a valid word.
    Does my answer have to be the shortest?
    No — any valid chain that reaches the target wins. The hint just shows the shortest known length.
    Why must every step be a real word?
    That rule is what makes it a puzzle — you cannot pass through nonsense like 'crld', so each single-letter change has to land on a valid word.
    How long are the words?
    This version uses four-letter words, the classic length for word ladders — long enough to be interesting, short enough to keep a route findable.
    Can any two words be linked?
    Not every pair can be connected, which is why these puzzles are generated from chains already known to have a solution.