Trying to make a list that is ['_', '_', '_'] with the length depending on a for loop

I’m trying to make a list of ‘blanks’ that can be filled in individually later. The length of the list is dependent on a value (currentWord) which is why I can’t hard-code it.

iter8 = len(currentWord)
for i in currentWord:
    answerListNEW.append(' ')
    #
for i in currentWord:
    answerListNEW[i] = '_'

I get errors that the index must be integer, not str. Is there a way for the program to accept the ‘blank space’ ?
For simplicity, lets say currentWord = ‘alpha’ so that it’s simple and there’s just 5 iterations.

SECONDLY,
I would also like to print that list as a concatenated string so it’s just
‘_____’. (That way when values are added it becomes ‘v‘ and such.

Thanks in advance!!

>Solution :

i in currentWord will iterate over letters of that string (assuming it is a string). As the error says, lists cannot be indexed by letters.

You can use range()

answerListNEW = ['_' for _ in range(len(currentWord))]

Or list multiplication

answerListNEW = ['_'] * len(currentWord)

Or "listing" a string of all underscores

answerListNEW = list('_' * len(currentWord))

also like to print that list as a concatenated string

print(''.join(answerListNEW))