Is Mottle a game?
MOTTLE was a clue in NYT Connections #1252. Change its first letter and you get BOTTLE. We turned that idea into a free daily word game.
Play Mottle
Daily word puzzle
Swap the first letter of each word to fit the theme.
How to play Mottle
Each round gives you four words and one theme. Replace the first letter of each word to find four answers that fit the theme. Keep every other letter in place.
Swap M for B.
- Pick a word. Tap a row to choose which word to solve.
- Swap the first letter. Use the on-screen letters or type one on your keyboard. Use Hint for a clue about the selected answer.
- Solve all four. You can make five mistakes and still finish. The sixth wrong guess ends the round and reveals the remaining answers.
Why was MOTTLE in Connections?
In the November 14, 2026 edition of NYT Connections (#1252), MOTTLE was a word tile. To solve its group, players had to swap the first letter of each clue to make a piece of baby gear. MOTTLE became BOTTLE.
The other three changes were BATTLE → RATTLE, MARRIAGE → CARRIAGE, and TRIB → CRIB. The same board included a strategy board game group with Chess, Go, Othello, and Stratego.
Mottle FAQ
Is Mottle a game or a word?
In NYT Connections #1252, MOTTLE was a word clue. Mottle is also the name of the independent first-letter word game you can play on this page.
What does mottle mean?
As a verb, mottle means to mark something with irregular spots or patches of color. Freckles can mottle skin, for example. Merriam-Webster definition ↗
Is Mottle free to play?
Yes. Both the daily puzzle and practice rounds are free and run in your browser. The game saves daily progress on your device.
When does the daily Mottle reset?
The daily puzzle changes at midnight UTC, so players around the world get the same puzzle. Practice mode lets you play another round at any time.