A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #16
hints & answers for June 27, 2023

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows June 27, 2023. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, C, E and L. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

AMERICANO belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

COFFEE DRINKS

Reveal all four words
  • AMERICANO
  • CAPPUCCINO
  • ESPRESSO
  • LATTE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, C, P and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

ALMOND belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

TREE NUTS

Reveal all four words
  • ALMOND
  • CASHEW
  • PECAN
  • WALNUT

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Look along a leafy section of a paint chart.

Show one word

EMERALD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SHADES OF GREEN

Reveal all four words
  • EMERALD
  • FOREST
  • KELLY
  • OLIVE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, C, F and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BEAN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MR. ___

Reveal all four words
  • BEAN
  • CLEAN
  • FOX
  • PEANUT
Show categories only
  • Yellow: COFFEE DRINKS
  • Green: TREE NUTS
  • Blue: SHADES OF GREEN
  • Purple: MR. ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

COFFEE DRINKS

AMERICANO · CAPPUCCINO · ESPRESSO · LATTE

Green

TREE NUTS

ALMOND · CASHEW · PECAN · WALNUT

Blue

SHADES OF GREEN

EMERALD · FOREST · KELLY · OLIVE

Purple

MR. ___

BEAN · CLEAN · FOX · PEANUT

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.