A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1081
hints & answers for May 27, 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 27, 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, H, T and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COMMUNE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SMALL COMMUNITY

Reveal all four words
  • COMMUNE
  • HAMLET
  • TOWNSHIP
  • VILLAGE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BATTLESHIP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CLASSIC BOARD GAMES

Reveal all four words
  • BATTLESHIP
  • OPERATION
  • OTHELLO
  • TROUBLE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

AYE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HOMOPHONES OF WAYS OF LOOKING

Reveal all four words
  • AYE
  • LEAR
  • PIER
  • STAIR

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BANJO belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ENDING IN THE "LITTLE WOMEN" MARCH SISTERS

Reveal all four words
  • BANJO
  • MACBETH
  • MONOGAMY
  • NUTMEG
Show categories only
  • Yellow: SMALL COMMUNITY
  • Green: CLASSIC BOARD GAMES
  • Blue: HOMOPHONES OF WAYS OF LOOKING
  • Purple: ENDING IN THE "LITTLE WOMEN" MARCH SISTERS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SMALL COMMUNITY

COMMUNE · HAMLET · TOWNSHIP · VILLAGE

Green

CLASSIC BOARD GAMES

BATTLESHIP · OPERATION · OTHELLO · TROUBLE

Blue

HOMOPHONES OF WAYS OF LOOKING

AYE · LEAR · PIER · STAIR

Purple

ENDING IN THE "LITTLE WOMEN" MARCH SISTERS

BANJO · MACBETH · MONOGAMY · NUTMEG

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.