A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1005
hints & answers for March 12, 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 March 12, 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 B, D, H and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BUNKER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PLACES TO FIND SAND

Reveal all four words
  • BUNKER
  • DESERT
  • HOURGLASS
  • SANDBOX

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

METRONOME belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTH

Reveal all four words
  • METRONOME
  • PENDULUM
  • SWING
  • WINDSHIELD WIPER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BARRE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

APPARATUS-BASED EXERCISE CLASSES

Reveal all four words
  • BARRE
  • REFORMER
  • SPIN
  • STEP

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CUCKOO CLOCK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FEATURING BIRDS

Reveal all four words
  • CUCKOO CLOCK
  • FROOT LOOPS
  • MEXICAN FLAG
  • WEATHER VANE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: PLACES TO FIND SAND
  • Green: THINGS THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTH
  • Blue: APPARATUS-BASED EXERCISE CLASSES
  • Purple: FEATURING BIRDS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

PLACES TO FIND SAND

BUNKER · DESERT · HOURGLASS · SANDBOX

Green

THINGS THAT MOVE BACK AND FORTH

METRONOME · PENDULUM · SWING · WINDSHIELD WIPER

Blue

APPARATUS-BASED EXERCISE CLASSES

BARRE · REFORMER · SPIN · STEP

Purple

FEATURING BIRDS

CUCKOO CLOCK · FROOT LOOPS · MEXICAN FLAG · WEATHER VANE

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.