The New York Times continues to expand its collection of digital puzzle games with NYT Connections, a daily challenge that tests vocabulary, logic, and pattern recognition. The May 12 puzzle (number 1066) offers a clever mix of straightforward associations and deceptive wordplay. Today's categories range from literary terms and famous cities to hidden currency names, making the puzzle both approachable and surprisingly tricky. While some groups are easier to identify at first glance, the purple category stands out as the toughest due to its layered wordplay. This guide includes today's hints, complete answers, and useful strategies to help solve the puzzle.
What is NYT's 'Connections' game?
Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times that asks players to find relationships between words. The game features four colour-coded difficulty levels: Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple, with each level becoming progressively more difficult. Players are presented with 16 words and must organise them into four groups of four connected by a shared theme. These themes can involve meanings, phrases, hidden patterns, cultural references, or linguistic tricks, which makes the game both engaging and challenging.
NYT Connections hints for today
- Yellow: Words related to large written works
- Green: Cities named after saints
- Blue: Terms commonly paired with "long"
- Purple: Currency names with one extra letter added
NYT Connections answers for May 12, 2026
Here are the correct groupings for today's puzzle:
- Yellow – SUBSTANTIAL BOOK: OPUS, TOME, VOLUME, WORK
- Green – 'SAINT' CITIES: MONICA, PAULO, PETERSBURG, SALVADOR
- Blue – THINGS PRECEDED BY 'LONG': DISTANCE, DIVISION, JOHNS, WEEKEND
- Purple – CURRENCIES PLUS A LETTER: FRANCI, RANDO, REALM, WONK
How to play NYT Connections
Understand the objective
The game presents a grid of 16 words, and your task is to organise them into four groups of four. Each group shares a hidden connection based on meaning, structure, or wordplay.
Access the puzzle
A new Connections puzzle is released daily on The New York Times website and mobile app.
Begin analysing
Study all the words carefully and look for obvious links first. Rearranging the grid can help reveal hidden patterns and associations.
Submit your choices
Select four words that you think belong together and submit them. The game will confirm whether your grouping is correct.
Evaluate feedback
Correct answers are colour-coded and locked into place. Incorrect guesses reduce your remaining attempts.
Track attempts
Players have a limited number of mistakes available, so strategic thinking and elimination are important.
Difficulty levels explained
- Yellow: Usually the easiest category with direct or familiar connections.
- Green and Blue: Moderately difficult categories that may involve broader associations or phrases.
- Purple: The hardest category, often involving puns, hidden meanings, or unusual wordplay.
Strategies for solving NYT Connections
- Start with the most obvious groupings first
- Use elimination to narrow down difficult choices
- Consider phrases, prefixes, and word associations
- Look for misleading combinations designed to confuse players
- Pay extra attention to the purple category, which often hides the trickiest pattern
Other NYT games to explore
If you enjoy Connections, The New York Times also offers several other popular puzzle games:
- Wordle: Guess a five-letter word within six attempts
- Spelling Bee: Create as many words as possible using a set of letters
- Mini Crossword: A short daily crossword puzzle
- Strands: A themed word-search style puzzle with hidden connections
About the Author
TOI Tech Desk The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports, and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.
