If you woke up this morning, grabbed your coffee, and immediately got stuck on a yellow tile loop, you are definitely not alone. The Wordle today Dec 16 is one of those linguistic traps that makes you question if you actually know how to spell basic English. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mean one.
It's puzzle #1641.
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We’ve all been there. You have the first letter. You’re certain of the ending. But the middle? The middle is a disaster zone of "wait, is that really how you write that?"
The Wordle Today Dec 16 Answer and Hints
If you are just looking for a nudge without ruining the whole thing, here are a few clues to get your brain moving.
- Starting Letter: It starts with an S.
- Vowels: There are three vowels in this one, though they are doing some heavy lifting.
- Definition: It’s a term used when you transition from one thing to another without a gap. Think of a DJ switching songs or a TV host moving from a sad news story to a cooking segment.
- The Big Trap: Most people think this word is spelled like a popular motorized scooter. It isn't.
Still stuck?
The Wordle today Dec 16 answer is SEGUE.
Why SEGUE is a Total Nightmare
The reason this word is ruining everyone's streak today is pretty simple: we almost never see it written down compared to how often we hear it. We say "segway." We see the brand name "Segway" on tourist-filled city tours. But the actual dictionary word for a smooth transition is spelled S-E-G-U-E.
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Basically, it’s a loanword from Italian. In music, it literally means "it follows." Because it doesn't follow standard English phonetic rules, your brain probably tried to put an "A" or a "W" in there.
You've probably spent five minutes staring at the screen thinking "SEGEW? No. SEGUY? Definitely not."
Strategic Breakdown: How to Win Tomorrow
Looking at the data from the NYT WordleBot, today’s solve rate was significantly lower than average. Hard mode players especially got crushed because if you started with something like SLATE or STARE, you were locked into a green "S" and "E" that didn't help much with that tricky "G-U" middle.
- Vowel Hunting is Key: With three vowels in a five-letter word, starting with ADIEU or AUDIO would have actually been a massive help today. It would have flagged that "U" and "E" early.
- Forget the Brand Names: This is a recurring theme in Wordle. The game uses dictionary words, not proprietary trademarks. If you find yourself thinking of a brand, look for the "proper" linguistic version.
- Consonant Clusters: The "GU" combo is surprisingly rare in Wordle compared to "TH" or "CH." When you’re stuck, try to think of "weird" pairings.
Real Examples of the "Segue" Struggle
I remember a thread on Reddit where a player admitted they thought "segue" was pronounced "seeg." They had been reading it in books for years and never connected it to the spoken word "segway." That is exactly what makes Wordle so brilliant—and frustrating. It exposes the gaps between our spoken and written vocabulary.
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If you lost your streak today, don't let it get to you. SEGUE is a notorious "streak-killer" alongside words like FOLLY or JAZZY.
To improve your odds for tomorrow, consider switching your starting word to something with high-frequency consonants like SLANT or CRANE. If you haven't tried the "two-word opener" strategy (using two words that cover all vowels and the ten most common consonants), today was the perfect example of why that method works.
Go grab another coffee. You'll get them tomorrow.
Next Steps for Wordle Success:
- Check your statistics page to see if your "Average Guesses" took a hit today.
- Practice with a Wordle Archive tool to get used to Italian-origin words like "ADIEU" or "SEGUE."
- Try today's NYT Connections if you're still feeling like a word genius—it’s a great way to cool down after a tough Wordle.