What is Phraisins?
Phraisins is a daily cryptogram puzzle that replaces every letter of a sentence with typographic symbols like §, $, «, £, or ¢. Each symbol always represents the same letter throughout the sentence, and you decode the phrase using both the symbol pattern and a meaning clue. Five grape icons below the title track your daily score.
How to play Phraisins
- Read the coded sentence at the top, then the clue below it. The clue describes the sentence’s meaning, not its structure.
- Count the dashes on the answer line to see where the words break and how many letters each contains.
- Enter letters using the on-screen or physical keyboard. Each matching symbol fills in all its occurrences.
- Press ENTER when the sentence is complete. GIVE UP, HINT, and ENTER are on the same row.
Why both clues matter
The cryptogram shows the sentence’s structure, while the clue points to its meaning. You use recurring symbols to work out letters and wordplay to identify the phrase. Each helps narrow down the other.
Reading the feedback
Phraisins does not color-code individual letters. After a wrong submission, "Not quite right" appears below the sentence, your remaining attempts drop from 4 to 3, one grape disappears, and one symbol is replaced by its letter in the coded sentence. The system does not mark which letters you placed correctly.
Mode
Phrase du jour: One grid per day. Your browser saves it with a timestamp and phrase number.
Tips for solving
- Start with the symbol that appears most often. Filling all its occurrences at once splits the sentence into recognizable pieces.
- Check the dash line before typing. Word lengths narrow down which expressions fit the clue.
- Each wrong attempt costs one of your five grapes, so reconstruct the full sentence mentally before hitting ENTER.
Common questions
Do I need to create an account?
No. The grid opens directly and progress is saved in your browser.
How many attempts per phrase?
Four. The save starts with four remaining attempts, decremented with each submission.