--- title: "Motamo tips: 7 strategies to complete the word chain · SIWA" description: "Seven Motamo tips: read definitions the right way, use word length and the final letter, and know when to guess a word rather than spend a joker." canonical_url: "https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-motamo" last_updated: 2026-10-27 locale: en meta: "og:description": "Seven Motamo tips: read definitions the right way, use word length and the final letter, and know when to guess a word rather than spend a joker." "og:image": "https://dev.siwa.io/og/en/motamo.jpg?v=9c7b8f2b" "og:image:alt": "Motamo · Rebuild the chain of 5 words" "og:image:height": "630" "og:image:type": image/jpeg "og:image:width": "1200" "og:title": "Motamo tips: 7 strategies to complete the word chain" "twitter:image": "https://dev.siwa.io/og/en/motamo.jpg?v=9c7b8f2b" "twitter:image:alt": "Motamo · Rebuild the chain of 5 words" --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://dev.siwa.io/llms.txt) How to play # Motamo tips: 7 strategies to complete the word chain To solve Motamo in few guesses, combine three clues: the definition, the word length and its first letter. Then try a plausible word rather than a joker: a wrong guess costs fewer points and leaves the correctly placed letters on screen. Updated October 27, 2026 [Play Motamo](https://play.dev.siwa.io/game/motamo) ## 1. Read the definition to the end Every Motamo word has several definition sentences, in a set order: the most cryptic first, the most direct last. The text types itself out. If the first sentence means nothing to you, don't type at random: wait for the next one. The opening sentences often play on an image or a double meaning. The closing ones describe the word more literally, like a dictionary. All definitions are in French, as are the words. ## 2. Start from the tiles, not just the meaning Before reading anything, you already know two things: the first letter and the number of tiles. Those two constraints rule out most candidates. A definition hinting at "a shelter", with a first letter C and six tiles, does not leave a hundred options. Practise framing candidates that way: first letter, length, then meaning. It is faster than hunting for the word in the abstract and checking afterwards. ## 3. Think of a noun first Motamo words come from a dictionary, picked with clear rules. The first word is never a verb, and a five-word chain holds at most one verb, never in a conjugated form. Words are usually 5 to 9 letters long. Faced with an ambiguous definition, look for a noun first. If it clearly describes an action, try the infinitive or a participle. ## 4. Guess a plausible word rather than use a joker This is the most rewarding tip, and it comes straight from the scoring. Accuracy weighs 30% of the play rating: words found divided by guesses. On a five-word chain, the first miss costs about 50 points, the second about 35, then less and less. A joker always costs about 60 points. And a wrong guess also tells you something: correctly placed letters stay on screen in blue. ## 5. Pick guesses that test useful letters Motamo only flags correctly placed letters: nothing tells you a letter appears elsewhere in the word. Every guess should therefore aim to confirm positions. When torn between two words, submit the one sharing the most letters, in the same positions, with your other candidates. If those letters turn blue, you have moved forward on several leads at once. ## 6. Watch the last letter Each word you find hands its last letter to the next. Plenty of French words end in E, so expect E-words to come up often in the chain. The final letter won't help you choose between two candidates: only the exact word is accepted. But once a word is found, look straight away at the next word's first letter and length. That saves a few seconds every time. The dots at the top also help you pace yourself: you always know how many words are left. If the last word resists, there is no reason to panic: tries are unlimited, and each wrong guess costs less than the one before. ## 7. Manage your time without rushing Time counts: the reference time is 3 minutes for a medium chain, 2 minutes for an easy one and 4 minutes for a hard one. Finishing faster earns up to 200 bonus points, reached at half the reference time; finishing far slower costs at most 250 points. The slowness penalty grows gently: taking twice the reference time costs about 150 points. So a few extra seconds of thought beat a string of random guesses, which drag down your accuracy. ## Mistakes to avoid - **Using a joker at the first sticking point.** A wrong guess is cheaper and often just as informative. - **Ignoring the end of the definition.** The last sentence is the most direct. - **Looking for a conjugated verb.** The game doesn't use them. - **Worrying about accents.** They are ignored. ## Going further New to the game? Start with [the Motamo rules and a walked-through game](https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/comment-jouer-a-motamo). Motamo is also part of our pick of [daily word games](https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/jeu-de-mots-du-jour), to play each morning alongside other letter puzzles. ## Frequently asked questions
Is it better to make a wrong guess or use a joker in Motamo? A wrong guess is usually cheaper. The first miss costs about 50 points and each later one a little less, while a joker always costs about 60 points.
Why are Motamo definitions so cryptic at first? Each word has several definition sentences, ordered from the most obscure to the most direct. Waiting for the end of the definition almost always gives you a clearer clue.
Are verbs common in Motamo? No. The chain is mostly nouns. There is at most one verb per game, as an infinitive or participle, never conjugated, and the first word is never a verb.
Does time count in the Motamo score? Yes. The reference time is 3 minutes for a medium chain. Beating it earns a bonus; going well over it brings a capped penalty.
## Ready to play? Today's grid is waiting, free and without sign-up. [Play Motamo](https://play.dev.siwa.io/game/motamo) ## More guides [TMSPMPR

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