The NYT Connections puzzle for September 19, 2026 has been revealed, and the hints are finally out. The game, which asks players to find the common thread between words, has become a social media hit since associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu helped bring it to the Times’ Games section.
Today’s puzzle features 16 words split into four categories, each color-coded from yellow to purple. Players get up to four mistakes before the game ends, and they can rearrange the board to spot connections more easily. The categories for today are broadening one’s scope, children’s art, swinging in London in the 1960s, and calculator buttons.
What Is Connections?
Connections is the latest daily word game from the New York Times. It follows the same format as Wordle, resetting after midnight with each new set of words getting trickier. The game requires players to group four words that share something in common, and getting all four correct removes those words from the board.
The Categories for Today
The hints for today’s puzzle are designed to nudge players without giving away the answer. Each category comes with a clue that points toward the words inside it.
| Category | Hint |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Widen one’s scope |
| Green | Features of a kid’s drawing |
| Blue | Associated with swinging in London in the 1960s |
| Purple | Starting with abbreviated math functions |
The Answers Revealed
The full solution to today’s Connections #1195 is now available. Here are the answers for each category:
- Yellow: Widen one’s scope — BRANCH OUT, DIVERSIFY, EXPAND, GROW
- Green: Features of a kid’s drawing — HOUSE, STICK FIGURE, SUN, TREE
- Purple: Starting with abbreviated math functions — COS LETTUCE, LOG CABIN, SIN CITY, TAN LINE
How to Play
Players who want to solve the puzzle themselves should stop reading now. The hints above are meant to help, not spoil the fun. The categories are the key — once you know what each one is asking for, the words start to fall into place.
Broaden your horizon
That yellow category hint is deliberately vague. It is meant to send players toward words that describe growth, expansion, or opening up. The green category, about children’s art, is a little more straightforward — think simple shapes and familiar subjects.
The blue category ties into the swinging movement in London in the 1960s. The words inside this category point to that moment in history. The purple category points toward words that start with abbreviated math functions, which narrows the field considerably.
Sharing the Results
Like Wordle, Connections lets players share their results on social media. That is part of what has made the game a hit — solving it becomes a small shared experience between friends.
Players who get stuck can also rearrange the board to see the words in a fresh order. That simple act can sometimes reveal a connection that was invisible before.
What Comes Next
For players who want more puzzles, Mashable’s games hub offers Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more. The site also provides hints for NYT Strands, another puzzle game from the Times.
The Board Rules
Getting all four words in a set correct removes those words from the board. Guessing wrong counts as a mistake, and players get up to four mistakes until the game ends. Rearranging the board is allowed, and each group is color-coded.
Final Words
The Connections hints for today are a useful tool, but they are not a substitute for thinking through the puzzle yourself. The joy of the game is in the hunt — spotting the thread that connects four words that seem unrelated at first glance.
For anyone who wants the answer now, it is all laid out above. For everyone else, the board is still open.
Source material: “NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 19, 2026,” Mashable.
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