Poople #404 — September 22, 2026 (WHEN)
Start word WHEN · Par 6 · Medium
Three hints, one at a time
Show the par
The shortest route takes 6 steps.
Show a positional tip
Start by changing letter 4, counting from the left.
Show the first bridge word
WHEW
Full path
- Start Starting word
- 01 Letter 4: N → W
- 02 Letter 1: W → C
- 03 Letter 3: E → O
- 04 Letter 4: W → P
- 05 Letter 2: H → O
- 06 Letter 1: C → P
6 steps
The first step has 6 legal moves; 1 keeps a shortest route to POOP.
Breadth-first search checks shorter distances before reaching POOP. A separate search verifies the minimum using the same accepted vocabulary. Every move changes one letter. Our word list may differ from the official game, so its shortest route may differ too.
Some puzzles have several equally short routes. We show the one our BFS returns, using a fixed alphabetical tie-break.
Bridge words
- WHEW
- interjection. An exclamation expressing relief, surprise, or discomfort.
- CHEW
- verb. To break food down by repeatedly working it between your teeth.
- CHOW
- noun. An informal word for food.
- CHOP
- verb. To divide something with forceful cuts.
- COOP
- noun. An enclosure used to keep birds or small animals.