How to play the Canuckle game?
Enter your first word
Type any valid five-letter English word and press Enter. You have six attempts to find the hidden Canadian word.
Find out which letters are in the word
Red means the letter is in the right spot. Gold means it is in the word but somewhere else. Grey means it is not in the word at all.
Guess the hidden word
Use the clues and think Canadian. Solve it and you get a short fun fact about the word and its link to Canada.
What is Canuckle?
Canuckle is a free daily word game, often called the Canadian Wordle. You get six tries to guess a five-letter word, and every Canuckle word has a link to Canada: its places, food, wildlife, sports, history and slang.
There is one Canuckle word of the day for everyone, so you can compare results with friends. Play the Canuckle word game online free on your phone or computer. Correct letters turn red, like the maple leaf, and every solve ends with a short fun fact.
Play today’s Canuckle, switch to Canuckle Unlimited for endless practice, or open the calendar archive to replay any past puzzle. Your streak and stats are saved in your browser.
| Word length | 5 letters |
|---|---|
| Guesses | 6 tries |
| Answers | Canadian places, food, wildlife, sports, history and slang |
| Colours | Red = right spot · Gold = wrong spot · Grey = not in the word |
| New word | Every day at midnight, Toronto time |
| Modes | Daily, Unlimited and past puzzles |
| Price | Free, no download |
Need a Canuckle hint today?
Tap Hint above the board for three clues, one at a time: how many vowels the word has, whether a letter repeats, and the first letter. You only see what you open, so you get a nudge without spoiling today’s Canuckle answer.
Playing the original Canuckle at canucklegame.ca? See today’s Canuckle hints and answer or the Canuckle answer archive.
Best starting words for Canuckle
A strong first guess tests the most common letters before you start thinking about Canada.
SLATE or CRANE
Test S, T, R, A, E, C, L and N, the letters that appear most often.
AUDIO or ADIEU
Find the vowels fast, then switch to consonants on guess two.
CANOE
A Canadian opener that checks three vowels plus C and N.
Tips to solve Canuckle faster
These habits help you solve the Canuckle word of the day in fewer guesses.
Use two openers
CRANE then MOIST tests ten different letters and leaves only a few possible answers.
Think Canadian
Run through animals (moose, bison), food (bagel, syrup), places (Yukon, Banff), weather (frost, slush) and hockey (pucks, dekes).
Watch for repeats
Words like GEESE and IGLOO use the same letter twice.
Try Hard Mode
Turn it on in Settings: every revealed letter must be used in your next guess.
Canuckle vs Wordle
The rules of the Canuckle Wordle are the same. The answers and a few extras are what change.
| Wordle | Canuckle | |
|---|---|---|
| Answers | Everyday English words | Words linked to Canada |
| Right letter | Green | Red, like the flag |
| After you solve | Your score | Your score plus a Canadian fun fact |
| Ways to play | One daily puzzle | Daily, Unlimited and past puzzles |
A quick guide to Canadian slang
Knowing these helps with the Canuckle word game, and with any trip to Canada.
Toque
A knitted winter hat.
Loonie
The one-dollar coin, named after the loon on it.
Toonie
The two-dollar coin, introduced in 1996.
Double-double
Coffee with two creams and two sugars.
Keener
Someone very eager, like the student at the front.
Bunny hug
A hoodie, if you live in Saskatchewan.
Hydro
Electricity, or the electricity bill.
Deke
A hockey move that fakes out an opponent.
When does the new Canuckle start?
The Canuckle word today changes at midnight in Toronto. Here is that moment across Canada:
Saskatchewan does not change its clocks, so its start time moves by an hour between summer and winter.
The story behind Canuckle
How a Wordle spin-off from Ottawa became a daily habit across Canada.
- Winter 2021–22
Wordle becomes a worldwide habit and spin-offs appear for every interest.
- February 10, 2022
Brothers Mark and Jeff Rogers launch Canuckle in Ottawa, just as the Winter Olympics begin.
- July 1, 2022
The first season ends on Canada Day. The daily puzzle later returns.
- February 2025
The City of Ottawa marks the 1,000th Canuckle puzzle with an official proclamation.
Canuckle FAQ
What is the Canuckle word today?
Today’s word in our game is hidden in the board at the top of this page; use the Hint button for clues. For the original Canuckle at canucklegame.ca, see our Canuckle hint today page.
What time does the new Canuckle come out?
Every day at midnight Toronto time (Eastern Time). The countdown in the results window shows how long is left.
What does red mean in Canuckle?
Red means the letter is in the right spot. Gold means it is in the word but somewhere else, and grey means it is not in the word.
Do my guesses have to be Canadian words?
No. Any valid five-letter English word is accepted. Only the answer is always connected to Canada.
Can I play Canuckle Unlimited or past puzzles?
Yes. Switch to Unlimited for a new word whenever you want, or open the Calendar to play any earlier day.
How do I keep my streak?
Solve the daily puzzle every day before midnight Toronto time. Past puzzles from the calendar do not change your streak.
Are there French words in Canuckle?
Some answers come from French-Canadian words, such as TUQUE. They are always written in plain letters, without accents.
Who created Canuckle?
The original Canuckle was created by brothers Mark and Jeff Rogers in Ottawa and launched on February 10, 2022.
What happened to Canuckle? Is it ending?
The first season was planned to end on Canada Day 2022, so many players asked if Canuckle was ending. The daily game came back and passed its 1,000th puzzle in 2025.
Is Canuckle part of the New York Times?
No. The New York Times owns Wordle, but Canuckle is a separate Canada-themed game. This site is also independent.
Is there a Canuckle app?
You don’t need one. Canuckle runs in your browser on any phone, tablet or computer. Add this page to your home screen for one-tap access.
Why is Canuckle not working?
Refresh the page first. If the board still doesn’t load, update your browser or turn off content blockers for this site.
Is Canuckle free?
Yes. It is free, with no account or download needed.