--- title: "Proximo tips: 7 strategies to find the secret word · SIWA" description: "Seven Proximo tips: use the theme, read the ranks, climb towards the secret French word through associations and stop wasting guesses." canonical_url: "https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo" last_updated: 2026-10-27 locale: en meta: "og:description": "Seven Proximo tips: use the theme, read the ranks, climb towards the secret French word through associations and stop wasting guesses." "og:image": "https://dev.siwa.io/og/en/proximo.jpg?v=dbfaca9c" "og:image:alt": "Proximo · Track down the mystery word by meaning" "og:image:height": "630" "og:image:type": image/jpeg "og:image:width": "1200" "og:title": "Proximo tips: 7 strategies to find the secret word" "twitter:image": "https://dev.siwa.io/og/en/proximo.jpg?v=dbfaca9c" "twitter:image:alt": "Proximo · Track down the mystery word by meaning" --- > Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://dev.siwa.io/llms.txt) How to play # Proximo tips: 7 strategies to find the secret word To find Proximo's secret word in few guesses, start from the theme with common French words, then climb the ranks through word associations around your best guess. Each wrong guess costs about 30 points, so aim for words that teach you something. Updated October 27, 2026 [Play Proximo](https://play.dev.siwa.io/game/proximo) ## 1. Start from the day's theme The tag at the top of the screen gives the secret word's theme: "Animaux" (animals), "Météo" (weather), "Métiers" (jobs), "Maison" (home)… There are about twenty themes. It is your first clue, and it is free. Keep your first guesses inside that field. An off-topic word will very likely come back "Hors liste" (off the list), and every wrong guess weighs on your score. ## 2. Open with common words The list of 100 neighbours only holds fairly frequent French words. A rare or very technical word has little chance of being on it, even if it is close in meaning. So open with simple, central words from the theme: for "Nourriture" (food), think PAIN, FROMAGE or REPAS before BRIOCHE or GRATIN. You will refine once you have your first ranks. ## 3. Read the ranks like a map The rank tells you where you stand relative to the secret word. A single-digit rank means you are at the heart of it. A rank between 50 and 100 means the right neighbourhood, but not yet the right direction. Your guesses are sorted by rank, and "Meilleur rang" (best rank) reminds you of your best lead. Always start again from there, not from the last word you typed. ## 4. Climb through associations Proximo's proximity comes from usage: two words are close if they often appear in the same contexts. Synonyms count, but so does everything that keeps the secret word company in a sentence. From your best word, try what causes it, what follows it, what you do with it, where you find it. An opposite can rank high too, because it shows up in the same sentences. To understand this better, read [how proximity works in Proximo](https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/proximo-comprendre-la-proximite). ## 5. Stop wasting guesses Every guess that isn't the secret word costs about 30 points, ranked or "Hors liste". A few habits avoid needless losses: - **Check before you submit.** The game doesn't check spelling: a typo comes back "Hors liste" and counts as a guess. - **Don't test variants.** The plural or feminine of a ranked word gets the same rank. - **Forget accents.** They are ignored: GRELE equals GRÊLE. Words you already tried are refused without counting. ## 6. Save hints for real dead ends The **Indice** (hint) button reveals words from the list starting from the bottom: #100, then #99, and so on. Each hint costs about 60 points, roughly two wrong guesses. A hint is mostly useful when every guess comes back "Hors liste": even a word ranked #100 puts you back in the right area of meaning. Once you are on the list, your own guesses will move you forward faster and more cheaply. ## 7. Think about the shape of the secret word The secret word is 5 to 10 letters long and is not a verb. It can be a noun, but also an adjective or a plural form. When you are circling the right idea, try it in those forms. One detail can put you on the right track: other forms of the secret word are not on the list. If a word that should be very close comes back "Hors liste", try its plural, singular or feminine. ## Time, without rushing The reference time is 4 minutes: beating it earns a bonus, going well over it costs at most 250 points. But a thoughtful guess beats a fast one, since every mistake weighs too. Before you submit, ask yourself what the word will teach you: if both a good rank and "Hors liste" would leave you none the wiser, pick another candidate. ## Going further Proximo rewards regular play: the more games you finish, the better your feel for which words travel together. New to the game? Start with [the Proximo rules and a walked-through game](https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/comment-jouer-a-proximo). And if proximity games are your thing, our pick of [games like Cemantix](https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/jeux-comme-cemantix) has more. ## Frequently asked questions
Which word should I start a game of Proximo with? A common word at the centre of the day's theme. Frequent words are far more likely to be among the 100 neighbours than a rare or technical one.
Is a "Hors liste" guess wasted? It costs as much as a ranked word, but it tells you that you are far away. Two or three in a row mean it is time to change direction.
Are Proximo hints worth it? Rarely early on. The first hint reveals the word ranked #100, the next #99, and each costs about 60 points, the price of two wrong guesses.
Should I test the plural of a well-ranked word? No. Forms of the same word share its rank, so testing the plural teaches you nothing and costs a guess.
## Ready to play? Today's grid is waiting, free and without sign-up. [Play Proximo](https://play.dev.siwa.io/game/proximo) ## More guides [TMSPMPR

Daily word games

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Love Cémantix or Semantle? Proximo has you guess a French mystery word by semantic proximity, with a theme as a hint. Two more vocabulary games round it out.AlternativeRead the guide](https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/jeux-comme-cemantix) [PMM

Games like Pédantix

Love Pédantix? Three free French word games where you guess words by meaning, definitions or clues. One grid a day, in the browser, no sign-up needed.AlternativeRead the guide](https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/jeux-comme-pedantix) [Play Proximo](https://play.dev.siwa.io/game/proximo) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#identity","@type":"Organization","email":"hello@siwa.io","name":"SIWA","url":"https://dev.siwa.io/","logo":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#logo"}},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#website","@type":"WebSite","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"SIWA","url":"https://dev.siwa.io/","publisher":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#identity"}},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#webpage","dateModified":"2026-10-27","datePublished":"2026-10-27","description":"Seven Proximo tips: use the theme, read the ranks, climb towards the secret French word through associations and stop wasting guesses.","name":"Proximo tips: 7 strategies to find the secret word","url":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo","@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#breadcrumb"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#website"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#/schema/question/1"},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#/schema/question/2"},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#/schema/question/3"},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#/schema/question/4"}],"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo"]}],"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#logo"}},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#article","@type":"Article","dateModified":"2026-10-27","datePublished":"2026-10-27","description":"Seven Proximo tips: use the theme, read the ranks, climb towards the secret French word through associations and stop wasting guesses.","headline":"Proximo tips: 7 strategies to find the secret word","inLanguage":"en","mainEntityOfPage":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo","thumbnailUrl":"https://dev.siwa.io/og/en/proximo.jpg?v=dbfaca9c","author":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#identity"},"image":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#/schema/image/1"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#identity"}},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#breadcrumb","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Home","item":"https://dev.siwa.io/en","position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Guides","item":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides","position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Proximo tips","position":3}]},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#/schema/question/1","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Which word should I start a game of Proximo with?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A common word at the centre of the day's theme. Frequent words are far more likely to be among the 100 neighbours than a rare or technical one."}},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#/schema/question/2","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Is a \"Hors liste\" guess wasted?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It costs as much as a ranked word, but it tells you that you are far away. Two or three in a row mean it is time to change direction."}},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#/schema/question/3","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Are Proximo hints worth it?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Rarely early on. The first hint reveals the word ranked #100, the next #99, and each costs about 60 points, the price of two wrong guesses."}},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/en/guides/astuces-proximo#/schema/question/4","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Should I test the plural of a well-ranked word?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Forms of the same word share its rank, so testing the plural teaches you nothing and costs a guess."}},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#logo","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"SIWA","contentUrl":"https://dev.siwa.io/logo-siwa.svg","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://dev.siwa.io/logo-siwa.svg"},{"@id":"https://dev.siwa.io/#/schema/image/1","@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://dev.siwa.io/og/en/proximo.jpg?v=dbfaca9c","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://dev.siwa.io/og/en/proximo.jpg?v=dbfaca9c"}]} ``` ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](https://dev.siwa.io/sitemap.md) for all pages.