Today’s NYT Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for May 12 #1788

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a common word, but the repeated letter may throw you off. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Read more: New Study Reveals Wordle’s Top 10 Toughest Words of 2025

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has one repeated letter.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with C.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with K.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer refers to a timepiece.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is CLOCK.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, May 11, No. 1787, was NEWLY.

Recent Wordle answers

May 7, No. 1783: BUDGE

May 8, No. 1784: UMBRA

May 9, No. 1785: SATIN

May 10, No. 1786: PARKA

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Don’t be afraid to use our tip sheet ranking all the letters in the alphabet by frequency of uses. In short, you want starter words that lean heavy on E, A and R, and don’t contain Z, J and Q. 

Some solid starter words to try:

ADIEU

TRAIN

CLOSE

STARE

NOISE