Rootle: Etymology Puzzles

Rootle is six daily word puzzles about the hidden history of the English language.

Every day, six new challenges unlock. Each takes 2–5 minutes and teaches you something real about where words come from.

KIN — Twelve words. Four groups of three share a hidden ancient ancestor. Find them.

TRACE — An ancient root is given. One modern descendant is hiding in the slots. Type it.

TWIST — A phrase from another language, translated literally. Guess the real idiom.

STORY — Every word has a biography. Three questions trace one word's journey through history.

ATLAS — Every place name once meant something. Three questions about language, place, and origin.

QUIRK — One ridiculous-but-real word per day. Three questions: meaning, origin, and which other word is also real.

No accounts. No ads. No tracking. Your progress lives on your device. Full archive of every past puzzle included.