A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1219
hints & answers for October 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 October 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 C, S, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CONDITION belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STATUS

Reveal all four words
  • CONDITION
  • SHAPE
  • SITUATION
  • STATE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BEAR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

TOLERATE

Reveal all four words
  • BEAR
  • HANDLE
  • STAND
  • WEATHER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

ABBREVIATION belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN

Reveal all four words
  • ABBREVIATION
  • CONTRACTION
  • ELISION
  • NICKNAME

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

ALKYLAMIDE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS

Reveal all four words
  • ALKYLAMIDE
  • CALAMARI
  • MANDARIN
  • MELAMINE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: STATUS
  • Green: TOLERATE
  • Blue: WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN
  • Purple: WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

STATUS

CONDITION · SHAPE · SITUATION · STATE

Green

TOLERATE

BEAR · HANDLE · STAND · WEATHER

Blue

WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN

ABBREVIATION · CONTRACTION · ELISION · NICKNAME

Purple

WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS

ALKYLAMIDE · CALAMARI · MANDARIN · MELAMINE

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.