Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
Informal names for the part above your shoulders.
Show one word
COCONUT belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
SLANG FOR HEAD
Reveal all four words
- COCONUT
- CROWN
- DOME
- SKULL
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #560
hints & answers
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#560
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
Gentle hint
Read each one in both directions.
Show one word
ABBA belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
PALINDROMES
Reveal all four words
- ABBA
- KAYAK
- NUN
- STATS
Ignoring spaces and punctuation, each entry reads the same forwards and backwards.
Blue group
More challenging
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with B, E, K and M. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
BONES belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
POLICE PROCEDURALS
Reveal all four words
- BONES
- ELEMENTARY
- KOJAK
- MONK
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with A, F, K and L. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
ABBOTT belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
FIRST IN A COMEDY DUO
Reveal all four words
- ABBOTT
- FRY
- KEY
- LAUREL
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
SLANG FOR HEAD
COCONUT · CROWN · DOME · SKULL
Green
PALINDROMES
ABBA · KAYAK · NUN · STATS
Blue
POLICE PROCEDURALS
BONES · ELEMENTARY · KOJAK · MONK
Purple
FIRST IN A COMEDY DUO
ABBOTT · FRY · KEY · LAUREL
Make the connection
Four groups. Just enough help.
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Each group shares something: a meaning, a phrase, a sound, or an unexpected bit of wordplay.
Start with the group that has you stuck. Open its hint, try again, and reveal more only when you need it. Nothing you open will uncover a different group.
Before you spend another guess
- Find all four. Three convincing words can still be a trap. Look for a fourth that fits the same rule.
- Change the meaning. A word can be a noun, a verb, a name, or part of a phrase. Try reading it another way.
- Leave room for overlap. If five words seem to fit, test which one could belong to another group.
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.