Hangman solver & helper.
A hangman solver isn't magic — it's letter-frequency strategy plus dictionary filtering. Here's how to pick the next guess like a solver, and how the Hangman iPhone app's optional hint system does it for you.
Solver strategy in three steps
- Guess the most common vowels first — E, A, I. Every English word contains at least one, and they reveal word shape quickly.
- Then the top consonants — T, N, S, R, L, D. These are in the majority of English words at low cost.
- Match the pattern — Once 2-3 letters are revealed, a solver filters the dictionary against the pattern (e.g.
_ E _ _ E R→ LETTER, BETTER, MEMBER). Guess the letter that appears in most remaining candidates.
English letter-frequency table
The frequency of each letter in written English. A hangman solver uses this on turn one; you should too.
Frequently asked
How does a hangman solver work?
A hangman solver takes the pattern of revealed letters and blanks and matches it against a dictionary, filtering candidates by which letters are already ruled out. The best next guess is the letter appearing in the highest number of remaining candidates.
What is the best letter to guess first in hangman?
E is the most common letter in English, followed by A, R, I, O, T, N, S. Start with vowels (E, A, I) then move to the top consonants. This letter-frequency heuristic is what a hangman helper uses on turn one.
Does the Hangman app have a helper?
Yes. The Hangman iPhone app offers optional hints — reveal a letter, skip a round, or ask for a category clue. Hints cost points, so they trade rank for a rescue.
Is using a hangman solver cheating?
In casual play, no — it's a way to learn letter-frequency strategy. In ranked leaderboards, using outside tools is against the spirit of the game. The app's built-in hints are fair game because they're weighted into the score.
Practise the strategy against curated hangman word lists.