I was playing some cryptolists and I wanted to see what Google's Gemini AI would say. I'l put my comments in a different color and probably in parentheses.
Me:
Do you know what cryptolists are?
Gemini:
Yes, cryptolists (sometimes called crypto-lists or cryptoquizzes) are a popular variation of the standard cryptogram puzzle.
Instead of decrypting a famous quote or a single sentence, you are tasked with decoding a list of related words or phrases that fall under a specific category, such as "Types of Fruit," "Romantic Movies," or "Deli Delights."
How Cryptolists Work
a.) Substitution Cipher: Like standard cryptograms, each letter is replaced by a different letter (e.g., if "G" represents "D" in one word, it represents "D" throughout the entire list).
b.) Category Clue: You are almost always given a theme or category at the top of the puzzle, which acts as your primary starting point.
(You would NOT guess "EARTH' for "PXVT" as earth has five letters and that is four letters.)
Common Tips for Solving
Use the Category: Start by thinking of common words that fit the theme and seeing if their letter patterns match any of the coded words.
Look for Double Letters: Words like "Apple," "Balloon," or "Harrow" have distinctive double letters that can help you anchor your alphabet.
Letter Frequency: Even in lists, the letter "E" is still the most common in the English language, followed by "T" and "A."
Consistency: Once you identify a letter, immediately fill it in across every word in that specific list.
Sources:
Would you like me to find a sample cryptolist for you to try solving?
Me:
I'm doing some. Right now the category is food. I'm looking for a word that would fit that category and the pattern qfvvpsf
Gemini:
Based on the pattern qfvvpsf and the category food, the word you are looking for is likely CHEDDAR.
Pattern Breakdown
The pattern qfvvpsf has 7 letters with a double letter in the 3rd and 4th positions, and the 2nd and 7th letters are the same.
C H E D D A R
q f v v p s f
In this substitution:
f = H
v = D
q = C
p = A
s = R
Why this fits
In many food-themed cryptolists, Cheddar is a common word because of its distinct double-consonant structure. If you have other words in your list, check to see if the F in those words also translates to H, or if the V translates to D.
Another (though less common) possibility following a similar structure is GRAPPEL (a brand name for grape-flavored apples), but CHEDDAR is much more standard for a general food category.
Sources:
Would you like me to check any other words from your list to see if the letters match up?
Me:
Oh the category is food and drink. That might make difference for QFVVPSF.
Gemini:
Actually, broadening the category to Food and Drink doesn't change the most likely answer, but it does add a couple of interesting beverage-related possibilities that share the same pattern.
The pattern for QFVVPSF is 1233452 (where the 2nd and 7th letters are the same, and there is a double letter in the middle).
Here are the top candidates for that pattern:
1. CHEDDAR
This remains the strongest candidate. It is a staple in "Food and Drink" puzzles because it is a very common word with a very distinct pattern.
C H E D D A R
Q F V V P S F (Matches: F=H, V=D)
(Again, no)
2. CHILLER
Since "Drink" is now included, this is a possibility. A "chiller" can refer to a type of chilled drink or a wine cooler.
C H I L L E R
Q F V V P S F (Matches: F=H, V=L)
(Definitely not, it would be CHLLERH)
3. SHALLOT
If the food list leans more toward ingredients or vegetables, this fits perfectly.
S H A L L O T
Q F V V P S F (Matches: F=H, V=L)
(Again, definitely not. That would be SHLLOTH).
4. BUBBLES
While less common as a standalone "food," it is very common in "Drink" lists (referring to soda or champagne). However, the letter mapping here would be different (the first letter Q would be B, and the last letter F would be S).
B U B B L E S
Q F V V P S F
(Again, no, that would be BU??LEU, we don't know that letter V would be, but it can't be B because Q is B)
How to verify:
To know for sure which one it is, look at other words in your cryptolist: a.) If you have a word that starts with F, and you think it’s H, then CHEDDAR, CHILLER, or SHALLOT are likely. b.) If you have already solved a word with a V in it and it turned out to be D, then CHEDDAR is definitely your word!
Sources:
Would you like me to look at another word from the list to see if we can lock in the letter "V" or "F"?
Me:
It's not any of those, so let's try kcvfasafnn in the category of food and drink.
Gemini:
Based on the pattern kcvfasafnn and the category of Food and Drink, the word is STRAWBERRY.
Pattern Breakdown
The word has 10 letters with a very specific internal repetition and a double letter at the end. Here is how kcvfasafnn maps to STRAWBERRY:
S T R A W B E R R Y
k c v f a s a f n n
(Nope, that would make this str?aw?wb???)
In this substitution:
k = S
c = T
v = R
f = A
a = W
s = B
a = E (Wait, let's look closer—the pattern matches STAWBERRY but we have a slight mismatch on the letters provided.)
Let's re-examine the pattern kcvfasafnn (10 letters):
k 2. c
v
f
a
s
a (Same as 5)
f (Same as 4)
n
n (Same as 9)
With the double letter at the end and the repeating 4th/8th and 5th/7th letters, the word is actually MAYONNAISE.
The Match: MAYONNAISE
M A Y O N N A I S E (Wait, that doesn't fit the double ending).
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Let's try MOZZARELLA:
M O Z Z A R E L L A (Double letters are in the middle).
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Let's look at the pattern again: k c v f a s a f n n If we use PEPPERMINT? No. How about CAPPUCCINO?
C A P P U C C I N O (Double letters in middle).
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Let's try CHARDONNAY:
C H A R D O N N A Y (10 letters)
k c v f a s a f n n (Doesn't match the double 'n' at the end).
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
The Correct Word: BRUSCHETTA
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Wait, let's look at APPLESANCE? No.
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Actually, looking at the repetition in k c v f a s a f n n: The letters at positions 5 & 7 are the same (a). The letters at positions 4 & 8 are the same (f). The letters at positions 9 & 10 are the same (n).
The word is GRAPEFRUIT? No. The word is MARMALADE? No.
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Let's try CAPPELLETTI (a type of pasta):
C A P P E L L E T T I (11 letters, too long).
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Wait! Let's look at PEPPERONIS:
P E P P E R O N I S (10 letters) — No.
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Let's try ORECHIETTE:
O R E C H I E T T E (10 letters)
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
k c v f a s a f n n
k=O, c=R, v=E, f=C, a=H, s=I, a=E... Yes!
Wait, let's check that mapping: O R E C H I E T T E 1=O (k) 2=R (c) 3=E (v) 4=C (f) 5=H (a) 6=I (s) 7=E (a) -> Mismatches (a is H and E).
Let's try one more: FETTUCCINE
F E T T U C C I N E (10 letters)
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
k c v v f a a s n n (Doesn't match your specific pattern).
Let's try: GINGER ALE
(If the space is ignored)
G I N G E R A L E S? No.
(There's more reasons this doesn't fit)
Let's look at the pattern 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 4 7 7 again. The word is LEMONADE? No.
Could the word be PROSECCO? No. Wait! Is it REFRIGERANT? No.
(Refrigerant isn't a food or drink)
Could it be CHARDONNAY? (If the ending is YY)? No.
Let's look at kcvfasafnn again. If n n is E E: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E E If f _ _ f is A _ _ A: _ _ _ A _ _ _ A E E
The word is ADRIATICO? No. The word is APPLETISER? No.
Is the word WATERMELON?
W A T E R M E L O N (10 letters)
k c v f a s a f n n
4=E, 8=O (Doesn't match).
Let's try: PEPPERIDGE? No.
Could it be: GINGERBEER?
G I N G E R B E E R
k c v f a s a f n n (Double letter at end is R R)
4=G, 8=E (Doesn't match).
One more: BOTTLESEEN? No.
(What the heck is bottleseen?)
Actually, let's try: ROTINI... No.
Could the word be STAWBERRYS? No.
Wait! Look at k c v f a s a f n n If the double letter at the end is SS: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S S M O L A S S E S (Only 8 letters).
Is it: CHESHIRE... No.
(This isn't a drink or a food)
Let's try CANDYCANES?
C A N D Y C A N E S
k c v f a k c v _ _ (Doesn't match).
Let's look at the pattern one more time: 1-2-3-4-5-6-5-4-9-9 The word is CHICKPEAS? No. The word is ELDERBERRY?
E L D E R B E R R Y (10 letters)
k c v f a s a f n n
1=E (k)
2=L (c)
3=D (v)
4=E (f)
5=R (a)
6=B (s)
7=E (a) -> MATCH! (a is E)
8=R (f) -> MATCH! (f is E/R mismatch... wait).
Let me try SQUASH... No.
Is it: BLUEBERRY?
B L U E B E R R Y S? No.
Wait! The word is PEMBERTONS? No.
(This is not a food or drink, although John Pemberton invented Coca Cola)
Let's try TENDERLOIN? No.
Could it be: GOOSEBERRY?
G O O S E B E R R Y (10 letters)
k c v f a s a f n n (Doesn't match).
Is it: ORECCHIETTE? (11 letters).
Final guess based on the pattern: Could it be HUCKLEBERRY? (11 letters).
If the word you are looking for is QFVVPSF from earlier and it wasn't Cheddar, and now you have kcvfasafnn, perhaps the V in the first word and the V in this word are the same letter.
If V = R: _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ R R _ _ _ (for the first word) That would make the first word BORROWE? No.
If V = L: _ _ L L _ _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ _ _
If the first word was JELLIES? J E L L I E S Q F V V P S F
Q=J, F=E, V=L, P=I, S=E (Wait, F and S can't both be E).
Let's try VANILLA: V A N I L L A Q F V V P S F
Q=V, F=A, V=N, P=I, S=L (This fits!)
V = N
F = A
(Vanilla does NOT fit)
If V = N and F = A in your second word kcvfasafnn:
_ _ N A _ _ _ A N N
B A N A _ _ _ A N N? No.
If we use the VANILLA key (F=A): k c v A a s a A n n The word is MACARONI? No. The word is FETTUCCINE? No.
Could the second word be ALFALFA...? No.
Let's try the word EVERYTHING (as in bagels)? No.
Is it: BUBBLE GUMM? No.
Let's try: OREGANO... No.
Sources:
Would you like to give me one more word from the list? Seeing a third word usually helps lock in the alphabet!
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