If you’ve ever played the New York Times Spelling Bee, you know how satisfying it feels to find that one word hiding in plain sight. Today’s puzzle features an interesting mix of consonants and vowels that creates some surprising combinations. In this post, you’ll see the full word list you can make, learn some strategies to help you solve puzzles faster, and discover the standout pangram waiting in plain sight.
About today’s puzzle
With R as the center letter, today’s hive uses A, F, I, L, O, W around it. The mix feels balanced, with plenty of vowels to encourage experimentation and a solid set of consonants to form longer constructions. The puzzle opens up nicely once you crack a few core patterns, especially around words starting with F and ending with common suffixes. The letter combinations lean toward familiar territory, but the pangram requires a bit more creative thinking to spot.
NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: January 31 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.
4 Letter Words
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Afar
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Afoil
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Alar
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Awol
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Fair
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Fail
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Fiar
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Foal
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Foil
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Fora
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Frow
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Lair
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Lear
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Liar
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Lira
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Loir
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Oral
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Roil
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Roll
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Rolf
5 Letter Words
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Ariel
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Flail
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Flair
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Flora
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Foray
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Frail
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Friar
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Frill
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Filar
6 Letter Words
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Aerial
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Floral
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Florar
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Raffia
7 Letter Words
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Airfoil
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Frailer
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Farrilo
8 Letter Words
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Firewall
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Rainfall
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Waterfall
Pangram of the day
Today’s standout pangram is AIRFLOW, which elegantly pulls together all seven letters without feeling forced. This word represents the movement of air through a space—an everyday concept that solvers might initially overlook because it feels so ordinary. Once you spot it, you’ll realize how naturally the letters fit together. Other potential longer constructions show how flexible this letter set can be once you start stacking familiar word parts.
Quick tactics for any puzzle
- Start with the center letter.
Since every word must include it, try building short “roots” with that letter first, then expand. - Play with prefixes and suffixes.
Look for common starters (like re-, pre-, tri-) and endings (like -er, -ry, -ing). These patterns often unlock multiple words. - Anagram your discoveries.
Once you’ve found a word, shuffle its letters around — you’ll often uncover two or three more. - Use repeated letters.
Remember, the same letter can appear more than once. Doubling letters opens up words you might otherwise overlook. - Hunt for pangrams.
Try to use all seven letters at least once. Pangrams aren’t always easy, but when you find one, it feels like striking gold.
Habits to sharpen your skills
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Begin with easy 4-letter words to get your brain moving.
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Rotate vowels and consonants through different combinations to see what “clicks.”
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Step away and return later—fresh eyes will catch words you missed.
Optional tools if you want extra help
- Pen and paper. Writing the letters down or sketching patterns can reveal hidden words.
- Word-finding apps. Great for study or practice, but use sparingly if you want to keep the challenge.
- Personal word journal. Track words you miss often — over time, you’ll train yourself to recognize them quickly.
Wrap-up
Today’s word hive highlights why the NYT Spelling Bee remains such a popular daily word game. Exploring letter combinations, spotting patterns, and building longer words all contribute to a rewarding experience that keeps players coming back each day. The R center letter creates some delightful combinations, especially once you unlock AIRFLOW and realize how many adjacent words branch off from that foundation. Did you uncover more words than expected or stumble on a surprising favorite? Share your score, best finds, or strategies in the comments and join the conversation.
