A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #971
hints & answers for February 6, 2026

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 February 6, 2026. 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 C, L, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CUP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ITEMS AT A COFFEE STATION

Reveal all four words
  • CUP
  • LID
  • STIRRER
  • STRAW

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, C, R and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CANDY CANE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS WITH STRIPES

Reveal all four words
  • CANDY CANE
  • CROSSWALK
  • REFEREE
  • TIGER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BUTTER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS BEFORE "FLY" IN INSECT NAMES

Reveal all four words
  • BUTTER
  • DRAGON
  • FIRE
  • HORSE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, H, H and Y. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CHOW belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HOMOPHONES OF GREETINGS

Reveal all four words
  • CHOW
  • HAY
  • HIGH
  • YEOH
Show categories only
  • Yellow: ITEMS AT A COFFEE STATION
  • Green: THINGS WITH STRIPES
  • Blue: WORDS BEFORE "FLY" IN INSECT NAMES
  • Purple: HOMOPHONES OF GREETINGS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

ITEMS AT A COFFEE STATION

CUP · LID · STIRRER · STRAW

Green

THINGS WITH STRIPES

CANDY CANE · CROSSWALK · REFEREE · TIGER

Blue

WORDS BEFORE "FLY" IN INSECT NAMES

BUTTER · DRAGON · FIRE · HORSE

Purple

HOMOPHONES OF GREETINGS

CHOW · HAY · HIGH · YEOH

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.