New York Times Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Today’s groups use shared meanings, shorter forms of words, and a pattern in how letters combine.
NYT Connections #1219 Puzzle Overview: 12 October 2026
SHAPE, HANDLE, and MANDARIN have more than one meaning. Try a word in different senses before placing it.
The sixteen words on today’s board are: CALAMARI, MANDARIN, STATE, ABBREVIATION, NICKNAME, HANDLE, SHAPE, WEATHER, CONDITION, CONTRACTION, SITUATION, BEAR, ALKYLAMIDE, STAND, ELISION, MELAMINE.
NYT Connections Hints: 12 October 2026
Each of the four color groups below opens in four steps: hints, one word, the category name, then all four words. Stop at the step that gives enough help.
Yellow group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think about how things are at a given moment.
- Each term can describe a person’s or thing’s current circumstances.
Step 2 · one word
CONDITION
Step 3 · category
STATUS
Step 4 · all four words
CONDITION, SHAPE, SITUATION, STATE
Green group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think of these as verbs used when something is unpleasant.
- Each can mean to endure something difficult.
Step 2 · one word
BEAR
Step 3 · category
TOLERATE
Step 4 · all four words
BEAR, HANDLE, STAND, WEATHER
Blue group
Step 1 · two hints
- Think about what can happen to a longer expression.
- These describe ways a name or expression can become shorter.
Step 2 · one word
ABBREVIATION
Step 3 · category
WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN
Step 4 · all four words
ABBREVIATION, CONTRACTION, ELISION, NICKNAME
Purple group
Step 1 · two hints
- Look at the spelling rather than the meaning.
- Break each entry into pairs of letters that have a familiar official use.
Step 2 · one word
ALKYLAMIDE
Step 3 · category
WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS
Step 4 · all four words
ALKYLAMIDE, CALAMARI, MANDARIN, MELAMINE
Less common words explained
- ELISION: Elision is the deliberate omission of a sound or part of an expression.
- ALKYLAMIDE: An alkylamide is a chemical compound containing an alkyl group and an amide group.
- MELAMINE: Melamine is a chemical used to make hard plastic resins.
NYT Connections Answers: 12 October 2026
Step 4 of each group above holds its answer. The full solved grid and notes on today’s tricky words are folded below.
Full solved grid
Tricky words (spoilers)
STAND, as in “where things stand,” may seem to fit the yellow group. It belongs to the green group here, where it means endure.
The purple words split into U.S. state postal abbreviations: ALKYLAMIDE is AL-KY-LA-MI-DE; CALAMARI is CA-LA-MA-RI; MANDARIN is MA-ND-AR-IN; MELAMINE is ME-LA-MI-NE.
Yesterday’s groups for 11 October 2026
- PUT TO USE: APPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE, WIELD
- MONTHLY BILLS: CABLE, ELECTRICITY, INTERNET, PHONE
- THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT: GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP, REGISTRATION
- ENDING IN GAMBITS: EMPLOY, PATRICK, PERUSE, SYNTACTIC
More Connections: Yesterday’s puzzle · Play Connections on The New York Times
Also today: Wordle · Strands · Pips · Phrazle
Earlier days: 11 Oct · 10 Oct · 9 Oct · 8 Oct · 7 Oct · 6 Oct · 5 Oct
Questions about Connections
When does Connections change to a new puzzle?
A new puzzle arrives at midnight in the player’s own time zone.
How many tries does a player get in Connections?
The game ends after four mistakes.
Where can a person play Connections?
Play on The New York Times Games site or in the NYT Games app: Connections.
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