diff --git a/pages/[lang]/words.vue b/pages/[lang]/words.vue
index dc18dd60..0de5a5e0 100644
--- a/pages/[lang]/words.vue
+++ b/pages/[lang]/words.vue
@@ -83,12 +83,14 @@ useHead({
                     mainEntity: {
                         '@type': 'ItemList',
                         numberOfItems: words.value.length,
-                        itemListElement: words.value.map((w, i) => ({
-                            '@type': 'ListItem',
-                            position: i + 1 + (page.value - 1) * 30,
-                            url: `https://wordle.global/${lang}/word/${w.day_idx}`,
-                            name: `${w.word.toUpperCase()} \u2014 Wordle ${langNameNative.value} #${w.day_idx}`,
-                        })),
+                        itemListElement: words.value
+                            .filter((w) => w.word)
+                            .map((w, i) => ({
+                                '@type': 'ListItem',
+                                position: i + 1 + (page.value - 1) * 30,
+                                url: `https://wordle.global/${lang}/word/${w.day_idx}`,
+                                name: `${w.word!.toUpperCase()} \u2014 Wordle ${langNameNative.value} #${w.day_idx}`,
+                            })),
                     },
                 })
             ),
@@ -169,69 +171,96 @@ function winRate(stats: { total: number; wins: number }): number {
 
             <!-- Word Grid -->
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4 mb-6">
-                <NuxtLink
-                    v-for="w in words"
-                    :key="w.day_idx"
-                    :to="`/${lang}/word/${w.day_idx}`"
-                    class="block bg-neutral-50 dark:bg-neutral-800 rounded-lg p-4 hover:shadow-md hover:bg-neutral-100 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700 transition-all group"
-                >
-                    <!-- Word tiles (mini) -->
-                    <div class="flex justify-center gap-1 mb-2">
-                        <div
-                            v-for="(letter, li) in w.word"
-                            :key="li"
-                            class="w-8 h-8 flex items-center justify-center text-sm font-bold text-white bg-green-500 rounded uppercase"
+                <template v-for="w in words" :key="w.day_idx">
+                    <!-- Today's word: mystery card -->
+                    <NuxtLink
+                        v-if="w.is_today"
+                        :to="`/${lang}`"
+                        class="block bg-neutral-50 dark:bg-neutral-800 rounded-lg p-4 hover:shadow-md hover:bg-neutral-100 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700 transition-all group border-2 border-dashed border-green-500/40"
+                    >
+                        <div class="flex justify-center gap-1 mb-2">
+                            <div
+                                v-for="i in 5"
+                                :key="i"
+                                class="w-8 h-8 flex items-center justify-center text-sm font-bold text-white bg-neutral-400 dark:bg-neutral-600 rounded"
+                            >
+                                ?
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+                        <p class="text-xs text-neutral-400 text-center">
+                            #{{ w.day_idx }} &middot; {{ formatDate(w.date) }}
+                        </p>
+                        <p
+                            class="text-sm font-semibold text-green-600 dark:text-green-400 mt-2 text-center"
                         >
-                            {{ letter }}
+                            Today's word &mdash; Play to reveal!
+                        </p>
+                    </NuxtLink>
+
+                    <!-- Past word: normal card -->
+                    <NuxtLink
+                        v-else
+                        :to="`/${lang}/word/${w.day_idx}`"
+                        class="block bg-neutral-50 dark:bg-neutral-800 rounded-lg p-4 hover:shadow-md hover:bg-neutral-100 dark:hover:bg-neutral-700 transition-all group"
+                    >
+                        <!-- Word tiles (mini) -->
+                        <div class="flex justify-center gap-1 mb-2">
+                            <div
+                                v-for="(letter, li) in w.word"
+                                :key="li"
+                                class="w-8 h-8 flex items-center justify-center text-sm font-bold text-white bg-green-500 rounded uppercase"
+                            >
+                                {{ letter }}
+                            </div>
                         </div>
-                    </div>
 
-                    <!-- Day and date -->
-                    <p class="text-xs text-neutral-400 text-center">
-                        #{{ w.day_idx }} &middot; {{ formatDate(w.date) }}
-                    </p>
+                        <!-- Day and date -->
+                        <p class="text-xs text-neutral-400 text-center">
+                            #{{ w.day_idx }} &middot; {{ formatDate(w.date) }}
+                        </p>
 
-                    <!-- Definition snippet -->
-                    <p
-                        v-if="w.definition && w.definition.definition"
-                        class="text-xs text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-300 mt-1 line-clamp-2 text-center"
-                    >
-                        {{
-                            w.definition.definition.length > 80
-                                ? w.definition.definition.slice(0, 80) + '\u2026'
-                                : w.definition.definition
-                        }}
-                    </p>
+                        <!-- Definition snippet -->
+                        <p
+                            v-if="w.definition && w.definition.definition"
+                            class="text-xs text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-300 mt-1 line-clamp-2 text-center"
+                        >
+                            {{
+                                w.definition.definition.length > 80
+                                    ? w.definition.definition.slice(0, 80) + '\u2026'
+                                    : w.definition.definition
+                            }}
+                        </p>
 
-                    <!-- Stats summary -->
-                    <div
-                        v-if="w.stats && w.stats.total > 0"
-                        class="flex justify-center gap-3 mt-2 text-[10px] text-neutral-400"
-                    >
-                        <span>{{ w.stats.total }} plays</span>
-                        <span>{{ winRate(w.stats) }}% win</span>
-                    </div>
+                        <!-- Stats summary -->
+                        <div
+                            v-if="w.stats && w.stats.total > 0"
+                            class="flex justify-center gap-3 mt-2 text-[10px] text-neutral-400"
+                        >
+                            <span>{{ w.stats.total }} plays</span>
+                            <span>{{ winRate(w.stats) }}% win</span>
+                        </div>
 
-                    <!-- AI art thumbnail (loads async) -->
-                    <div class="mt-2 overflow-hidden rounded hidden" :data-img-id="w.day_idx">
-                        <img
-                            :src="`/api/${lang}/word-image/${w.word}?day_idx=${w.day_idx}`"
-                            :alt="w.word"
-                            class="w-full h-24 object-cover"
-                            loading="lazy"
-                            @load="
-                                ($event.target as HTMLImageElement).parentElement!.classList.remove(
-                                    'hidden'
-                                )
-                            "
-                            @error="
-                                ($event.target as HTMLImageElement).parentElement!.classList.add(
-                                    'hidden'
-                                )
-                            "
-                        />
-                    </div>
-                </NuxtLink>
+                        <!-- AI art thumbnail (loads async) -->
+                        <div class="mt-2 overflow-hidden rounded hidden" :data-img-id="w.day_idx">
+                            <img
+                                :src="`/api/${lang}/word-image/${w.word}?day_idx=${w.day_idx}`"
+                                :alt="w.word || ''"
+                                class="w-full h-24 object-cover"
+                                loading="lazy"
+                                @load="
+                                    (
+                                        $event.target as HTMLImageElement
+                                    ).parentElement!.classList.remove('hidden')
+                                "
+                                @error="
+                                    (
+                                        $event.target as HTMLImageElement
+                                    ).parentElement!.classList.add('hidden')
+                                "
+                            />
+                        </div>
+                    </NuxtLink>
+                </template>
             </div>
 
             <!-- Pagination -->
diff --git a/server/api/[lang]/definition/[word].get.ts b/server/api/[lang]/definition/[word].get.ts
index 5db7a4ca..6b073493 100644
--- a/server/api/[lang]/definition/[word].get.ts
+++ b/server/api/[lang]/definition/[word].get.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { fetchDefinition } from '../../../utils/definitions';
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
     const lang = getRouterParam(event, 'lang')!;
-    const word = getRouterParam(event, 'word')!;
+    const word = getRouterParam(event, 'word')!.normalize('NFC');
     const data = loadAllData();
 
     if (!data.languageCodes.includes(lang)) {
diff --git a/server/api/[lang]/word-image/[word].get.ts b/server/api/[lang]/word-image/[word].get.ts
index c2248219..4cc4844c 100644
--- a/server/api/[lang]/word-image/[word].get.ts
+++ b/server/api/[lang]/word-image/[word].get.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ const IMAGE_MIN_DAY_IDX = 1708;
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
     const lang = getRouterParam(event, 'lang')!;
-    const word = getRouterParam(event, 'word')!;
+    const word = getRouterParam(event, 'word')!.normalize('NFC');
     const data = loadAllData();
 
     if (!data.languageCodes.includes(lang)) {
diff --git a/server/api/[lang]/words.get.ts b/server/api/[lang]/words.get.ts
index bbb9aa09..93ae144b 100644
--- a/server/api/[lang]/words.get.ts
+++ b/server/api/[lang]/words.get.ts
@@ -61,24 +61,27 @@ export default defineEventHandler((event) => {
 
     const words: Array<{
         day_idx: number;
-        word: string;
+        word: string | null;
         date: string;
         definition: { definition: string; part_of_speech?: string } | null;
         stats: { total: number; wins: number } | null;
+        is_today: boolean;
     }> = [];
 
     for (let idx = startIdx; idx > endIdx; idx--) {
+        const isToday = idx === todaysIdx;
         const word = getWordForDay(lang, idx);
         const date = idxToDate(idx);
-        const stats = loadWordStats(lang, idx);
-        const defResult = readCachedDefinition(word, lang);
+        const stats = isToday ? null : loadWordStats(lang, idx);
+        const defResult = isToday ? null : readCachedDefinition(word, lang);
 
         words.push({
             day_idx: idx,
-            word,
+            word: isToday ? null : word,
             date: date.toISOString().slice(0, 10),
             definition: defResult,
             stats: stats ? { total: stats.total, wins: stats.wins } : null,
+            is_today: isToday,
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/api.test.ts b/tests/api.test.ts
index d2f050aa..b3091601 100644
--- a/tests/api.test.ts
+++ b/tests/api.test.ts
@@ -127,11 +127,18 @@ describe('API Routes', () => {
             expect(data.words.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
             expect(data.words.length).toBeLessThanOrEqual(30);
 
-            // Check word entry shape
-            const word = data.words[0];
-            expect(word.day_idx).toBeDefined();
-            expect(typeof word.word).toBe('string');
-            expect(word.date).toMatch(/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/);
+            // First entry is today's word (hidden)
+            const todayWord = data.words[0];
+            expect(todayWord.day_idx).toBeDefined();
+            expect(todayWord.is_today).toBe(true);
+            expect(todayWord.word).toBeNull();
+
+            // Second entry is a past word (visible)
+            if (data.words.length > 1) {
+                const pastWord = data.words[1];
+                expect(typeof pastWord.word).toBe('string');
+                expect(pastWord.date).toMatch(/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/);
+            }
         });
     });