A random letter for games and lessons
This random letter generator picks letters of the English alphabet with equal probability. Choose all 26 letters, vowels only, consonants only, or “common starting letters”, which leaves out Q, U, V, X, Y and Z — useful for word games where those letters are near-impossible. Generate one letter or several without repeats, in uppercase or lowercase, and exclude any letters you’ve already used.
It’s perfect for Scattergories and “Stop” (Tutti Frutti), alphabet scavenger hunts, phonics practice, handwriting warm-ups, picking initials for a character and choosing a random letter for a word puzzle. Prefer a show? Spin the alphabet wheel below — great on a classroom whiteboard with Remove winner on to work through the whole alphabet. You can also exclude tricky letters such as Q, X and Z for younger players.
How to use the Random Letter Generator
- Choose the letter set and case.
- Set how many letters you need and tick No repeats if needed.
- Press Pick a random letter.
- Or spin the alphabet wheel for a dramatic reveal.
Random letter odds
With all 26 letters, each letter has a 1 in 26 (≈3.85%) chance. Picking from vowels only (A, E, I, O, U) gives each a 20% chance. The chance of a vowel when drawing from all letters is 5/26 ≈ 19.2%.
Drawing two letters with repeats allowed, the chance they match is 1 in 26; with No repeats ticked it’s zero.
Frequently asked questions
Is Y counted as a vowel?
No. The vowel set is A, E, I, O, U. Y is included in the consonant set.
Which letters are left out of “common starting letters”?
Q, U, V, X, Y and Z, which are rarely used to start words in category games.
Can I use it for Scattergories?
Yes. Use “common starting letters”, generate one letter per round, and add used letters to the exclude box.
Published · Last updated by the WhimWheel team.