Puzzle #38 · Sep 21, 2025
Poople #38 Answer: BUFF to POOP
Poople #38 was the puzzle for Sunday, September 21, 2025. The starting word was BUFF, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 5 different shortest paths with our word list. Open the hints below one at a time if you want a nudge, or reveal the full ladder at the end.
Poople #38 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 3rd letter of BUFF, the F.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after BUFF starts with B. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with P.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
BUFF → BUMF → BUMP → PUMP → POMP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
BUMF is in our word list but marked rare, so the official game may not accept it.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUFF | BUMF | 3rd letter F to M |
| 2 | BUMF | BUMP | 4th letter F to P |
| 3 | BUMP | PUMP | 1st letter B to P |
| 4 | PUMP | POMP | 2nd letter U to O |
| 5 | POMP | POOP | 3rd letter M to O |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from BUFF
Our word list allows 5 shortest ladders from BUFF to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 5 paths
- BUFF → BUMF → BUMP → PUMP → POMP → POOP
- BUFF → CUFF → COFF → COOF → COOP → POOP
- BUFF → CUFF → COFF → COOF → POOF → POOP
- BUFF → BOFF → COFF → COOF → COOP → POOP
- BUFF → BOFF → COFF → COOF → POOF → POOP
Words one letter away from BUFF
These 13 words differ from BUFF in one letter. Common words are in SCOWL size 35; rare words are only in the ENABLE list, and the official game is more likely to reject them.
- BAFF rare
- BIFF rare
- BOFF rare
- BUMF rare
- CUFF common
- DUFF common
- GUFF rare
- HUFF common
- LUFF rare
- MUFF common
- PUFF common
- RUFF common
- TUFF rare
How hard was Poople #38?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #38 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #37 TOES (Sep 20, 2025)
- Next: #39 TURN (Sep 22, 2025)
- Same difficulty: #32 PIER, #34 BLUE, #36 DAYS
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #38?
Poople #38 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from BUFF to POOP with a breadth-first search over our four-letter word list (ENABLE + SCOWL), and the official game uses its own word list, so its count can differ from ours.
What was the starting word for Poople #38?
The starting word for Poople #38 was BUFF, on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Every Poople puzzle ends at POOP, so the start word is the only thing that changes from day to day. With our word list this one rates Hard. Hints for it are at the top of this page.
Can I replay Poople #38?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with BUFF as the start word, with Undo, Restart and three levels of hints. You can also play unlimited random puzzles on the home page, or pick any other past puzzle from the archive.