How to Solve a Cryptogram

A cryptogram is a short text where every letter has been swapped for another, consistently. Newspapers have printed them for a century; the fun is the chain reaction once the first few letters fall.

The rules

The hidden text is an English saying. Every letter is replaced by another letter, the same way throughout; no letter stands for itself.
Spaces and punctuation are unchanged.
Work out which letter each cipher letter stands for until the saying reads correctly.

Playing on kawu

Tap a cipher letter (or use the arrow keys) and type the letter you think it stands for. Your guess fills in everywhere that cipher letter appears.
A letter used for two different cipher letters turns red.
Backspace clears a guess. Undo steps back. Hint fixes a wrong guess or reveals the most useful letter.
The daily cryptogram is the same for everyone; race the clock.

Then read cryptogram solving tips.

Frequently asked questions

Can a letter stand for itself in a cryptogram?

Not on kawu: every letter is replaced by a different one. If a word looks like it could be itself, it isn't.

Is the cipher the same for the whole puzzle?

Yes. One substitution alphabet is used throughout, so when you fix a letter it changes everywhere at once.

What texts are used?

Well-known English proverbs and sayings. Knowing a few helps, but short words and letter frequency get you there without it.

Last updated 2026-10-21