Rung #12: KING to HEAR — the solution

The Rung ladder from August 26, 2026: KING to HEAR, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from KING to HEAR. 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. The leap does not shorten this one: 5 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 26 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. KING → KIND — the fourth letter, G becomes D.
2. KIND → HIND — the first letter, K becomes H.
3. HIND → HEND — the second letter, I becomes E.
4. HEND → HEAD — the third letter, N becomes A.
5. HEAD → HEAR — the fourth letter, D becomes R.

Other routes as short: KING · KIND · HEND · HEAD · HEAR; KING · KIND · HIND · HEAD · HEAR; KING · KIND · HIND · HEND · HEAR; and more.

The answer

KING · KIND · HIND · HEND · HEAD · HEAR — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #11 (Tue, Aug 25) · Next: Rung #13 (Thu, Aug 27) · All Rung solutions

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters that day, five now, 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, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.