“Did you get the Wordle today?”

It is a question that sophomore Mia Mannion has been asked often, sometimes by people who she rarely talks to. Wordle is a word-guessing game owned by The New York Times that gives people six guesses at a five-letter word of the day. Recently, it has become popular at South and has created solidarity among many people, Mannion said.

After hearing about the game through friends, Mannion incorporated Wordle into her daily life and developed a routine around it. She explained that she enjoys it because it gives her something fun to do while exercising her brain.

“I feel [Wordle] is better than [social media],” Mannion said. “If anything, I wish it were more addicting because then I’d be actually using my brain, whereas with [social media] I’m not.”

Mannion has also found that Wordle helps generate connections between people, as they discuss their “starting word” or help each other out with the daily word.

“It’s a conversation starter for our generation,” Mannion explained. “Coming back from Covid-19 it’s hard [to interact]. We [were] all isolated, and I’m not a sociable person, but with Wordle [I am].”

The process of solving the Wordle has also led some to discover new words, sophomore Colin Fox explained. The game forces players to think of other options that have the correct letters, and through this process, Fox has been able to come across uncommon words. The fulfillment that comes from solving the puzzle is also gratifying, Fox described.

“It’s really exciting to get the word because you get to look back on it and see how you got the word,” Fox said. “There’s a sort of satisfaction to it.”

Wordle parodies have also sprung up, according to theverge.com. There are games based on Taylor Swift, environmentalism, and many more topics.

The routine that comes with playing the game has also added to the appeal, senior Sami Duby explained. By starting each day with Wordle, Duby has something to look forward to in the morning. She has been able to keep a 31-day streak, and makes sure not to miss the Wordle each day.

“I wake up, I do the Wordle, and then I get out of bed,” Duby said. “I’ve never gotten the Wordle spoiled for me. I’d like to keep it that way, so I do it as soon as I wake up.”

Duby also added that Wordle provides an opportunity for friendly competition. She said that she frequently discusses the day’s puzzle with her friends and family.

“It’s fun to compete with your friends, to see who does it faster, or if your friends miss it you get to kind of make fun of them,” Duby described. “It’s just something to keep in touch everyday.”

The game is not just for students, as teachers have used it as an opportunity to get students more involved in class. Sejal Schullo, Social Studies Teacher, has occasionally created her own Wordle to solve as a group. Each of her chosen words are customized, and have a connection to class material.

“I love that it’s only one word, and everybody gets the same word,” Schullo said. “It’s such a small thing that brings communal joy.”