A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1073
hints & answers for May 19, 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 May 19, 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, C, N and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BABBLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS BABIES DO

Reveal all four words
  • BABBLE
  • CRY
  • NURSE
  • TEETHE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

ALTER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MODIFY DECEPTIVELY

Reveal all four words
  • ALTER
  • COOK
  • DOCTOR
  • FUDGE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BLUBBER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

JUDY BLUME BOOKS

Reveal all four words
  • BLUBBER
  • DEENIE
  • FOREVER
  • SUPERFUDGE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FOUNDER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FISH MINUS A LETTER

Reveal all four words
  • FOUNDER
  • SALON
  • SURGEON
  • TROT
Show categories only
  • Yellow: THINGS BABIES DO
  • Green: MODIFY DECEPTIVELY
  • Blue: JUDY BLUME BOOKS
  • Purple: FISH MINUS A LETTER

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

THINGS BABIES DO

BABBLE · CRY · NURSE · TEETHE

Green

MODIFY DECEPTIVELY

ALTER · COOK · DOCTOR · FUDGE

Blue

JUDY BLUME BOOKS

BLUBBER · DEENIE · FOREVER · SUPERFUDGE

Purple

FISH MINUS A LETTER

FOUNDER · SALON · SURGEON · TROT

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.