Overview
Puzzles are built by trial. Each attempt draws two or three distinct vowels and fills the rest with distinct consonants to make seven letters, shuffles them and makes the first one the center letter. The API then finds every word in its common-word list that is at least four letters long, contains the center letter and uses only the seven letters, with repeats allowed. An attempt is accepted when that count falls in the target range for `difficulty`: 30-50 words for `easy`, 50-80 for `medium` and 80-150 for `hard`. After 100 attempts without a hit it uses the attempt with the most words, provided it found at least 20.
Scoring follows the familiar rules. A four-letter word scores 1 point and a longer word scores one point per letter. A pangram, a word that uses all seven letters at least once, earns 7 extra points. `maxPoints` is the sum over every valid word, `wordCount` is how many there are and `pangramCount` counts the pangrams. A pangram is not guaranteed, so `pangramCount` can be 0. `words` is sorted from highest to lowest points.
Letters are returned in uppercase. `allLetters` lists the center letter first, then the six `outerLetters` in their shuffled order. `difficulty` accepts only easy, medium or hard; any other value returns a 400 error.
Valid words come from that one list, so the answers can include words a hand-edited puzzle would leave out and miss some a player expects. On the Free plan `wordCount`, `pangramCount`, `maxPoints`, `words` and `html` are null and the `image` parameter is removed.
Live Test Spelling Bee Generator API →
Endpoint
One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.
curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/spellingbee?difficulty=medium&image=true" \
-H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/spellingbee?difficulty=medium&image=true', {
headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);
const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);import requests
res = requests.get(
"https://api.apiverve.com/v1/spellingbee?difficulty=medium&image=true",
headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json()["data"])package main
import (
"fmt"
"io"
"net/http"
)
func main() {
req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/spellingbee?difficulty=medium&image=true", nil)
req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")
res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
if err != nil {
panic(err)
}
defer res.Body.Close()
out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
fmt.Println(string(out))
}Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.
Authentication
Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.
A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.
Parameters
Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
difficultyOptional | string | Difficulty: easy, medium, hard (affects word count)easymediumharddefault medium |
imageOptionalPremium | boolean | Set to true to generate a downloadable puzzle image |
Response
Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.
{
"status": "ok",
"error": null,
"data": {
"centerLetter": "A",
"outerLetters": [
"C",
"H",
"E",
"J",
"O",
"D"
],
"allLetters": [
"A",
"C",
"H",
"E",
"J",
"O",
"D"
],
"difficulty": "medium",
"wordCount": 53,
"pangramCount": 0,
"maxPoints": 200,
"words": [
{
"word": "DEADHEADED",
"points": 10,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "COHEADED",
"points": 8,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DEADHEAD",
"points": 8,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HEADACHE",
"points": 8,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "ACCEDED",
"points": 7,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "COACHED",
"points": 7,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "ACCEDE",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "AHCHOO",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CACHED",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "COHEAD",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DADOED",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DECADE",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DOODAD",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HADJEE",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HEADED",
"points": 6,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "AAHED",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "ACHED",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "ACHOO",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "ADDED",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "AHEAD",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CACAO",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CACHE",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CAECA",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "COACH",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "COCOA",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DACHA",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HADED",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HODAD",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "JADED",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "JEHAD",
"points": 5,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "ACED",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "ACHE",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "AHED",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "AJEE",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CACA",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CADE",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CECA",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CHAD",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CHAO",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "COCA",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "CODA",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DACE",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DADA",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DADO",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "DEAD",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "EACH",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HADE",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HADJ",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HAED",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HAHA",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HAJJ",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "HEAD",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
},
{
"word": "JADE",
"points": 1,
"isPangram": false
}
],
"html": "<html><head><title>Spelling Bee</title><style>body {font-family: Arial, sans-serif; padding: 20px; max-width: 500px; margin: 0 auto; text-align: center;}h1 {color: #F9A825;}.honeycomb {display: flex;…",
"image": {
"imageName": "0f8f8f2c-ac7d-46f9-b5fc-e2d777117f13.png",
"format": ".png",
"downloadURL": "https://storage.googleapis.com/apiverve/APIData/spellingbee/0f8f8f2c-ac7d-46f9-b5fc-e2d777117f13.png?GoogleAccessId=635500398038-compute%40developer.gserviceaccount.com&Expires=1766010561&Signature=cH…",
"expires": 1766010561052
}
}
}
Response fields
Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.
| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
centerLetter | string | "A" | The required center letter for all puzzle words |
outerLetters | array | [C, ...] | Six letters surrounding the center letter in hexagon |
allLetters | array | [A, ...] | Complete set of seven letters (center plus outer) |
difficulty | string | "medium" | Puzzle difficulty level (easy, medium, or hard) |
wordCountPremium | number | 53 | Total number of valid words in puzzle |
pangramCountPremium | number | 0 | Number of pangrams (words using all letters) |
maxPointsPremium | number | 200 | Maximum possible points achievable in puzzle |
wordsPremium | array[53] | Array of valid word objects with points and pangram status | |
wordPremium | string | "DEADHEADED" | Valid word that can be formed using puzzle letters |
pointsPremium | number | 10 | Points awarded for solving this word |
isPangramPremium | boolean | false | Whether word uses all seven puzzle letters |
htmlPremium | string | "<html><head><title>Spelling Bee</title><style>body {font-family: Arial, sans-serif; padding: 20px; m…" | Fully formatted HTML version with visual puzzle display |
imagePremium | object | {...} | The rendered puzzle image, present only when image=true is requested |
imageNamePremium | string | "0f8f8f2c-ac7d-46f9-b5fc-e2d777117f13.png" | Unique filename of the generated puzzle image |
formatPremium | string | ".png" | Image file format (e.g., .png or .jpg) |
downloadURLPremium | string | "https://storage.googleapis.com/apiverve/APIData/spellingbee/0f8f8f2c-ac7d-46f9-b5fc-e2d777117f13.png…" | Direct URL to download the generated puzzle image |
expiresPremium | number | 1766010561052 | Unix timestamp when download URL expires |
Errors
Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
400 | Input was rejected | Read error; it names the parameter. |
401 | Key missing or invalid | Check the header name and the key value. |
403 | Key valid, but not permitted | A key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping. |
429 | Rate limited, or out of credits | Read error to tell them apart; see rate limits. |
Use cases
- Daily Puzzles
- Create daily spelling bee challenges for websites and apps
- Education
- Build vocabulary and spelling exercises
- Brain Training
- Develop word recognition and recall skills
- Mobile Games
- Power spelling bee game apps with fresh puzzles
Other ways to use Spelling Bee Generator
Set up Spelling Bee Generator on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
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