NEW YORK — Wordle players tackling The New York Times' popular daily puzzle on Monday, June 1, 2026, were greeted with a spicy challenge as the solution for puzzle No. 1808 was revealed as "CHILI."

The five-letter word, referring to both a type of hot pepper and the popular stew dish, offered a flavorful twist to kick off the new month. Solvers who started with common openers containing multiple vowels quickly narrowed down possibilities, though the repeated "I" and less common "H" placement tested many players' strategies.

According to Webster's New World College Dictionary, "chili" refers to "the dried pod of red pepper, a very hot seasoning" or "a highly seasoned stew of meat, chili powder or peppers, and often beans." The dual meaning added an extra layer of satisfaction for those arriving at the answer through food-related associations.

Puzzle Difficulty and Player Performance

The New York Times reported that today's puzzle took testers an average of roughly 4.2 guesses, classifying it as moderately challenging. Many players shared grids showing success in three to five attempts, with starting words like "SLATE," "CRANE" or "AUDIO" proving particularly effective by testing key vowels and common consonants early.

The repeated "I" required careful management of duplicate letters, a common stumbling block. Green and yellow feedback on the second or third guess often pointed solvers toward the food or spice category, helping them converge on the correct solution.

Social media platforms buzzed with reactions throughout the day. Players celebrated the culinary theme, with some noting it paired perfectly with Memorial Day weekend barbecues and summer cooking inspiration. In Seoul and other international markets, discussions........

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