1️⃣ Official NYT Grid Matrix
The gold standard hint: see how many words exist for each starting letter and length.
| Letter | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 1 | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| N | 2 | - | - | - | 2 |
| P | 6 | 3 | - | 2 | 11 |
| R | 4 | - | - | - | 4 |
| U | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| TOTAL | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
2️⃣ Two-Letter Tally
Two-letter prefixes with the number of words starting with those letters.
3️⃣ Pangram Clues
Gentle teasers to help you deduce today's pangram(s) without spoiling the letters.
- • Starting Letter: P
- • Word Length: 7 letters
- • Ending Letter: N
4️⃣ Word-Length Hints
Shows first letter and length for every word (e.g. C---- (5)).
I (2 words)
N (2 words)
P (11 words)
R (4 words)
U (1 words)
5️⃣ Complete Answer List
Full spoiler list of all 20 accepted words.
How to Decrypt the NYT Grid Matrix & Two-Letter Tallies Without Spoilers
The official New York Times Spelling Bee grid is not a cheat sheet—it is an elegant analytical compass. When used methodically, it provides just enough structural information to guide your deductive reasoning without ruining the thrill of lexical discovery.
Step 1: Reading Rows and Columns in the Grid Matrix
The Grid Matrix organizes words along two axes: Starting Letter (Rows) and Word Length (Columns).
- Identify Empty Intersections: If a row shows a dash (—) under column 6, you know immediately not to waste time searching for 6-letter words with that initial letter.
- Pinpoint Remaining Targets: If your found wordlist contains three 5-letter words starting with F, and the matrix indicates a count of 4, your brain now has a precise search target: "Find one more 5-letter word starting with F."
Step 2: Cross-Referencing the Two-Letter Tally
Once you know which letter row has missing words, open Level 2: Two-Letter Tally.
If the letter T has words remaining, check the tally breakdown (e.g., TA-4, TI-6, TO-2). Count how many words you have discovered for each two-letter stem. If you have four TA words and two TO words, but only three TI words, you have successfully isolated your blind spot to TI- words without spoiling a single letter of the answer!
Step 3: Letter Doubling & Affix Compounding
Over 70% of missing words that prevent solvers from reaching Queen Bee are caused by two specific cognitive blind spots:
- Overlooked Doubled Letters: The brain assumes letters are unique unless prompted. Systematically test double letters: LL, TT, EE, OO, FF, PP.
- Modular Suffix Variations: If a verb stem is valid, test its past tense, gerund (-ing), noun form (-tion, -ment), and agent noun (-er, -or) forms.
Spelling Bee Hints: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between hints and answers?
Hints provide structural and statistical cues (word counts, starting prefixes, length tallies, and syllable clues) that allow you to deduce solutions independently. Answers display the complete, spelled-out words directly. We recommend using hints first to preserve the intellectual satisfaction of the game.
What is Queen Bee rank and how many points do I need today?
Queen Bee is the maximum achievable honor in the NYT Spelling Bee, awarded when you find every single valid word in the puzzle. For today's puzzle, Queen Bee requires finding all 20 words and earning all 60 points. Learn more in our Queen Bee Guide.
How is the Genius score calculated?
The Genius milestone is calculated as approximately 70% of that day's maximum potential points. For today's puzzle, Genius is achieved at 42 points. Once you reach Genius, you have officially won the day in the NYT app.
What is a Bingo in Spelling Bee?
A "Bingo" occurs when today's accepted word list includes at least one valid word starting with each of the seven letters in the hive. If one of the outer letters has a zero total in the Grid Matrix, today's puzzle is not a Bingo.
When does the hint matrix refresh for tomorrow's puzzle?
The hint grid matrix refreshes daily at precisely 3:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) (midnight Pacific Time). Our automated ingestion system computes the new matrix, tally, and clues the moment the official New York Times game updates.