The New York Times Spelling Bee for January 2, 2026 is a fun mix of familiar letters and sneaky combinations. As always, every valid word must be at least four letters long and include the center letter. Today’s hive leans playful and slightly tricky, with a warm, everyday feel that rewards patience and pattern-spotting as you dig deeper.

About today’s puzzle

With N locked in the center, today’s puzzle encourages building outward using a balanced mix of vowels and consonants. The presence of both Y and U adds flavor, while B and H open the door to cozy, homey words. The hive feels fairly open, but longer words take some experimentation to uncover.

NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: 2 January 2026

Here’s a best-effort list of words that fit today’s rules. Keep in mind: some are rare or unusual, so the official NYT list may vary.

  • BONE
  • BONEY
  • BONY
  • BUNNY
  • HONEY
  • HONE
  • HONED
  • HOUND
  • NOUN
  • NONE
  • NEON
  • ENNOY
  • BUYON
  • BEYON
  • UNHONEYED

Pangram of the day

Honeybun

The pangram for today is a satisfying find because it pulls together every letter in the hive into one compact, playful word. It works by blending familiar sounds into a single term that feels cozy and memorable. Using all seven letters at least once, it stands out as the perfect example of how flexible today’s letter set can be when everything clicks.

Quick tactics for any puzzle

  • Start with the center letter
  • Play with prefixes and suffixes
  • Anagram your discoveries
  • Use repeated letters
  • Begin with easy 4-letter words

Final thoughts

Today’s puzzle strikes a nice balance between comfort and challenge. Whether you found just a handful of words or chased down every last point, it’s a satisfying grid to explore. How many words did you uncover—and did you spot the pangram on your own?