Rung #34: HIDE to SOUP — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 17, 2026: HIDE to SOUP, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from HIDE to SOUP. 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 19 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. HIDE → CIDE — the first letter, H becomes C.
2. CIDE → CODE — the second letter, I becomes O.
3. CODE → COUP — the leap: D becomes U and E becomes P, two letters in one move for two rungs.
4. COUP → SOUP — the first letter, C becomes S.

Other routes as short: HIDE · RIDE · RODE · ROUE · ROUP · SOUP; HIDE · HODS · SODS · SOUS · SOUP; HIDE · MODE · MOUE · MOUP · SOUP; and more.

The answer

HIDE · CIDE · CODE · COUP · SOUP — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #33 (Wed, Sep 16) · Next: Rung #35 (Fri, Sep 18) · 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.