A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #366
hints & answers for June 11, 2024

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 11, 2024. 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
Gentle hint

Try saying these aloud instead of looking at their spelling.

Show one word

BI belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HOMOPHONES

Reveal all four words
  • BI
  • BUY
  • BY
  • BYE

These entries are pronounced alike despite their different spellings.

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

AB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MUSCLES, INFORMALLY

Reveal all four words
  • AB
  • PEC
  • QUAD
  • TRI

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

A record collection could be sorted under these headings.

Show one word

DUB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MUSIC GENRES

Reveal all four words
  • DUB
  • EMO
  • POP
  • TRAP

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with H, L, M and O. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

HI belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SETTINGS ON AN APPLIANCE KNOB

Reveal all four words
  • HI
  • LO
  • MED
  • OFF
Show categories only
  • Yellow: HOMOPHONES
  • Green: MUSCLES, INFORMALLY
  • Blue: MUSIC GENRES
  • Purple: SETTINGS ON AN APPLIANCE KNOB

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

HOMOPHONES

BI · BUY · BY · BYE

Green

MUSCLES, INFORMALLY

AB · PEC · QUAD · TRI

Blue

MUSIC GENRES

DUB · EMO · POP · TRAP

Purple

SETTINGS ON AN APPLIANCE KNOB

HI · LO · MED · OFF

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.