Compared to other word games, Contexto gives you unlimited guesses to find the day’s solution. While this feature offers more freedom, it also means that if your guesses aren’t on track, you might either give up or spend a lot of time before completing the puzzle. For beginners, this can be frustrating and may even make you dislike the game.
However, the secret to succeeding in Contexto lies in understanding how the game works and choosing the best word combinations to start with.
How Contexto Works
Every time you enter a word, it is ranked based on how contextually relevant it is to the word of the day (which is usually ranked 1). So, resist the temptation to focus on synonyms or words with similar spellings. Instead, think about the likelihood of a word co-occurring in a body of text, or consider the meaning and context behind the word.
The Best Word Combinations
The ideal strategy is to begin with some experimentation using a few starting words (listed below), then move on to categories or contexts where the word might fit (also listed below). Continue this process until you find your first green word. Once you have it, you can start guessing other specific example words that are associated with the green word.
I know that when you’re playing Contexto for the first time, these word categories and specific examples may not come to mind as quickly as you need them to. That’s why I’ve listed them here for you to use as a reference whenever you’re playing the game.
Let’s now explore these categories and specific examples.
Best Broad and Fundamental Categories to Start A Contexto Game
Here’s a list of strategic starting words for Contexto, grouped by their contexts. These words are broad and help you branch into related concepts quickly. I believe that by starting with them, you can identify the general category of the mystery word and systematically work your way toward the solution.
Broad Categories
| Starting Word | What It Can Lead To |
|---|---|
| Object | Everyday items, tools, or manufactured goods. |
| Animal | Pets, wild creatures, or mythical beasts. |
| Event | Holidays, historical moments, or social gatherings. |
| Emotion | Feelings like happiness, anger, or surprise. |
| Activity | Hobbies, sports, or work-related tasks. |
| Material | Substances like wood, metal, or fabric. |
| Food | Cuisines, ingredients, or meals. |
| Technology | Gadgets, software, or innovations. |
Concepts and Abstractions
| Starting Word | What It Can Lead To |
|---|---|
| Knowledge | Education, learning, or expertise. |
| Culture | Traditions, customs, or artistic expressions. |
| Science | Fields of study, discoveries, or methodologies. |
| Language | Words, alphabets, or communication methods. |
| Power | Energy, authority, or influence. |
| Art | Visual works, music, or creative expressions. |
| Justice | Fairness, laws, or morality. |
| Energy | Physical forces, renewable sources, or effort. |
Common Types or Groups
| Starting Word | What It Can Lead To |
|---|---|
| Plant | Trees, flowers, or agricultural crops. |
| Vehicle | Cars, planes, or other means of transport. |
| Building | Houses, skyscrapers, or historic structures. |
| Clothing | Garments, accessories, or traditional wear. |
| Tool | Instruments, devices, or equipment. |
| Sport | Games, activities, or competitions. |
| Instrument | Musical tools or scientific devices. |
| Relationship | Familial bonds, friendships, or partnerships. |
Specific Examples to Branch Out
| Starting Word | What It Can Lead To |
|---|---|
| Life | Existence, organisms, or vitality. |
| Time | Hours, ages, or historical periods. |
| Earth | The planet, soil, or nature. |
| Water | Rivers, oceans, or hydration. |
| Light | Brightness, illumination, or waves. |
| Space | The universe, planets, or exploration. |
| Health | Fitness, medicine, or well-being. |
| Work | Professions, effort, or productivity. |
Opposites to Explore Extremes
| Starting Word | What It Can Lead To |
|---|---|
| Day | Sunlight, schedules, or daily routines. |
| Night | Darkness, rest, or nocturnal activities. |
| Big | Size, importance, or grandeur. |
| Small | Minuteness, detail, or subtlety. |
| Hot | Temperature, heat, or passion. |
| Cold | Chill, frost, or indifference. |
| Old | Age, history, or tradition. |
| Young | Youth, growth, or beginnings. |
| War | Conflict, battles, or strategy. |
| Peace | Calm, harmony, or diplomacy. |
| Love | Affection, relationships, or emotion. |
| Hate | Anger, animosity, or aversion. |
Specific Examples from Different Categories
To narrow down the context of the target word and make it easier to identify connections, it’s important to try specific examples from different categories. To make this easier, I’ve listed examples from various categories below:
Group 1
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Food | Bread, Cheese, Pizza, Spaghetti, Apple, Chocolate, Sushi, Salad |
| Occupation | Teacher, Doctor, Engineer, Farmer, Chef, Architect, Pilot, Artist |
| Animal | Dog, Cat, Elephant, Dolphin, Lion, Panda, Penguin, Kangaroo |
| Event | Wedding, Birthday, Festival, Election, Parade, Marathon, Graduation, Concert |
| Place | Beach, Mountain, City, Park, Museum, School, Zoo, Library |
| Object | Chair, Clock, Bottle, Backpack, Mirror, Lamp, Keyboard, Scissors |
| Emotion | Happiness, Sadness, Fear, Anger, Surprise, Joy, Love, Envy |
| Color | Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Orange, Purple, White |
| Weather | Rain, Snow, Wind, Storm, Fog, Thunder, Sunshine, Blizzard |
| Clothing | Shirt, Jacket, Pants, Socks, Scarf, Hat, Gloves, Boots |
| Transportation | Car, Train, Bicycle, Airplane, Boat, Motorcycle, Subway, Truck |
| Plant | Rose, Oak, Cactus, Tulip, Bamboo, Fern, Sunflower, Lily |
| Tool | Hammer, Wrench, Screwdriver, Drill, Saw, Shovel, Ruler, Plunger |
| Sport | Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Golf, Cricket, Hockey, Baseball, Rugby |
| Technology | Smartphone, Laptop, Robot, Internet, Drone, Software, Battery, Screen |
| Music | Guitar, Piano, Drums, Violin, Symphony, Choir, Concert, Jazz |
| Building | House, Castle, Skyscraper, Temple, Cabin, Barn, Church, Apartment |
| Furniture | Table, Couch, Bed, Bookshelf, Desk, Wardrobe, Stool, Bench |
| Art | Painting, Sculpture, Canvas, Portrait, Graffiti, Mural, Abstract, Easel |
| Body Part | Arm, Leg, Heart, Brain, Eye, Nose, Hand, Spine |
| Holiday | Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Hanukkah, Ramadan, NYE |
| Shape | Circle, Square, Triangle, Rectangle, Oval, Star, Hexagon, Diamond |
| Material | Wood, Metal, Plastic, Glass, Stone, Leather, Fabric, Clay |
| Weapon | Sword, Bow, Gun, Shield, Cannon, Spear, Axe, Dagger |
| Family Member | Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, Grandparent |
| Language | English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, Japanese |
| Mythology | Zeus, Thor, Medusa, Phoenix, Centaur, Hydra, Pegasus, Loki |
| Literature | Novel, Poem, Play, Fable, Fairy Tale, Biography, Epic, Satire |
| Dance | Ballet, Tango, Salsa, Hip-Hop, Waltz, Flamenco, Breakdance, Jazz |
| Science/Concept | Gravity, Atom, Evolution, DNA, Energy, Quantum, Virus, Ecosystem |
Group 2
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Mythical Creatures | Dragon, Unicorn, Griffin, Mermaid, Minotaur, Kraken, Werewolf, Vampire |
| Movie Genres | Comedy, Action, Horror, Romance, Drama, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Documentary |
| Occupations in Arts | Painter, Sculptor, Composer, Writer, Actor, Director, Dancer, Singer |
| Games | Chess, Checkers, Monopoly, Poker, Sudoku, Scrabble, Dominoes, Bingo |
| Flowers | Daffodil, Orchid, Daisy, Lavender, Poppy, Jasmine, Chrysanthemum, Iris |
| Vehicles | Carriage, Yacht, Tank, Scooter, Helicopter, Canoe, Tram, Jeep |
| Space | Planet, Star, Moon, Galaxy, Comet, Meteor, Satellite, Black Hole |
| Fictional Characters | Sherlock, Cinderella, Hercules, Frodo, Simba, Batman, Elsa, Hamlet |
| Brands | Nike, Apple, Amazon, Tesla, Coca-Cola, Lego, Adidas, Samsung |
| Countries | France, Japan, Brazil, Canada, India, Australia, Italy, Kenya |
| Jobs in Healthcare | Nurse, Surgeon, Pharmacist, Veterinarian, Dentist, Therapist, Radiologist, Paramedic |
| Kitchen Items | Knife, Fork, Blender, Microwave, Kettle, Plate, Fridge, Oven |
| Hobbies | Knitting, Gardening, Painting, Hiking, Birdwatching, Cooking, Reading, Fishing |
| Seasons | Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Monsoon, Dry Season |
| Transport Locations | Airport, Train Station, Harbor, Bus Stop, Terminal, Garage, Dock, Toll Booth |
| Famous Landmarks | Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Great Wall, Taj Mahal, Colosseum, Big Ben, Pyramids, Machu Picchu |
| Festivals | Mardi Gras, Oktoberfest, Holi, Carnival, Lantern Festival, Comic-Con, Sundance, Coachella |
| Shapes in Nature | Honeycomb, Ripple, Spiral, Fractal, Wave, Sphere, Crystal, Ring |
| Verbs | Run, Jump, Swim, Write, Cook, Dance, Sing, Laugh |
| Adjectives | Happy, Beautiful, Brave, Strong, Angry, Small, Soft, Tall |
| Human Needs | Shelter, Water, Food, Safety, Sleep, Clothing, Health, Education |
| Fictional Places | Hogwarts, Narnia, Mordor, Atlantis, Neverland, Wakanda, Gotham, Oz |
| Technology Brands | Microsoft, Intel, Sony, Dell, Nvidia, HP, IBM, Oracle |
| Modes of Communication | Email, Phone, Letter, Morse Code, Radio, Signal, Internet, TV |
| Science Fields | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Geology, Ecology, Genetics, Botany |
| Religions | Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shinto |
| Famous Rivers | Nile, Amazon, Ganges, Mississippi, Yangtze, Danube, Rhine, Volga |
| Mythological Gods | Apollo, Athena, Anubis, Odin, Kali, Hera, Poseidon, Ra |
| Genres of Literature | Fantasy, Mystery, Historical, Satire, Horror, Adventure, Romance, Biography |
| Modes of Entertainment | Movies, Music, Theatre, Gaming, Podcast, Comedy, YouTube, Sports |
Group 3
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Insects | Butterfly, Ant, Bee, Mosquito, Grasshopper, Beetle, Dragonfly, Wasp |
| Birds | Eagle, Sparrow, Owl, Parrot, Penguin, Peacock, Falcon, Flamingo |
| Sea Creatures | Shark, Octopus, Jellyfish, Whale, Starfish, Crab, Lobster, Seahorse |
| Mountains | Everest, Kilimanjaro, Fuji, Andes, Alps, Rockies, Himalayas, Denali |
| Natural Disasters | Earthquake, Hurricane, Tsunami, Tornado, Flood, Drought, Landslide, Blizzard |
| Precious Stones | Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Amethyst, Opal, Topaz, Garnet |
| Metals | Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Aluminum, Platinum, Nickel, Zinc |
| Currencies | Dollar, Euro, Yen, Pound, Rupee, Franc, Peso, Krona |
| Programming Languages | Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, Ruby, HTML, SQL, Swift |
| Card Games | Blackjack, Poker, Solitaire, Rummy, Bridge, Hearts, Spades, Uno |
| Musical Genres | Pop, Rock, Classical, Hip-Hop, Blues, Country, Reggae, EDM |
| Mythological Weapons | Excalibur, Gungnir, Mjölnir, Trident, Aegis, Kusanagi, Durandal, Vajra |
| Fruits | Banana, Orange, Mango, Pineapple, Strawberry, Watermelon, Grape, Kiwi |
| Vegetables | Carrot, Broccoli, Spinach, Potato, Onion, Pepper, Tomato, Cucumber |
| Drinks | Coffee, Tea, Water, Soda, Juice, Beer, Wine, Milk |
| Physical Activities | Yoga, Running, Swimming, Cycling, Skiing, Boxing, Dancing, Climbing |
| Kitchen Appliances | Toaster, Mixer, Refrigerator, Oven, Blender, Dishwasher, Freezer, Stove |
| Board Games | Monopoly, Risk, Scrabble, Chess, Clue, Catan, Ticket to Ride, Battleship |
| Fairy Tale Characters | Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, Hansel, Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood |
| Pets | Dog, Cat, Fish, Hamster, Parrot, Rabbit, Turtle, Guinea Pig |
| Jobs in Education | Principal, Teacher, Librarian, Tutor, Professor, Counselor, Coach, Janitor |
| Military Ranks | General, Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Corporal, Private |
| Geometric Shapes | Cube, Pyramid, Sphere, Cylinder, Cone, Torus, Prism, Ellipsoid |
| Famous Bridges | Golden Gate, Brooklyn, London, Tower, Sydney Harbor, Rialto, Charles, Akashi |
| Vehicles in Sci-Fi | Starship, Hovercar, TIE Fighter, Batmobile, Millennium Falcon, Mech, Shuttle |
| Famous Explorers | Columbus, Magellan, Cook, Marco Polo, Shackleton, Pizarro, Vespucci, Hudson |
| Spices | Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Paprika, Cumin, Turmeric, Clove, Saffron, Ginger |
| Furniture Materials | Wood, Metal, Plastic, Rattan, Glass, Leather, Bamboo, Velvet |
| Astronomical Objects | Nebula, Quasar, Pulsar, Planet, Comet, Dwarf Planet, Asteroid, Star Cluster |
| Elements | Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Neon, Helium, Lithium, Sodium, Argon |
| Types of Clouds | Cumulus, Stratus, Cirrus, Nimbus, Altostratus, Altocumulus, Lenticular, Mammatus |
| Measurement Units | Meter, Liter, Gram, Pound, Inch, Gallon, Joule, Kelvin |
| Jobs in Construction | Carpenter, Plumber, Electrician, Mason, Architect, Surveyor, Roofer, Welder |
| Famous Paintings | Mona Lisa, Starry Night, The Scream, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Guernica, The Last Supper, The Kiss, Water Lilies |
| Famous Scientists | Einstein, Newton, Darwin, Curie, Galileo, Tesla, Hawking, Bohr |
| Political Systems | Democracy, Monarchy, Communism, Republic, Oligarchy, Anarchy, Dictatorship, Federation |
| Countries by Continents | Argentina (South America), Egypt (Africa), Germany (Europe), China (Asia), Australia (Oceania), Canada (North America) |
| Ancient Civilizations | Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Mayan, Aztec, Mesopotamian, Indus Valley, Babylonian |
Hopefully, these words have helped you narrow down your guesses. Like any other word game, the key to improving is to play frequently, learn from mistakes and past experiences, and make those connections.
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