Rung #1: SOUR to HERB — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 15, 2026: SOUR to HERB, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from SOUR to HERB. Par is the shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs, so it cannot be beaten. Without the leap the shortest climb is 6 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 16 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. SOUR → HOUR — the first letter, S becomes H.
2. HOUR → HOAR — the third letter, U becomes A.
3. HOAR → HEAR — the second letter, O becomes E.
4. HEAR → HERB — the leap: A becomes R and R becomes B, two letters in one move for two rungs.

Other routes as short: SOUR · SOAR · HOAR · HEAR · HERB; SOUR · SOAR · SEAR · HEAR · HERB; SOUR · SOUT · SORT · SORB · HERB; and more.

The answer

SOUR · HOUR · HOAR · HEAR · HERB — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Next: Rung #2 (Sun, Aug 16)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day. How to play Rung, or play today’s.