The NYT Spelling Bee puzzle for January 5, 2026 is a great example of how familiar letters can still surprise you. As usual, every accepted word must be at least four letters long and must include the center letter. Today’s letter set feels energetic and slightly mischievous, with room for repetition, gerunds, and a handful of longer words that reward persistence rather than speed.

About today’s puzzle

With A as the center letter, today’s hive leans heavily on repetition and word families. The surrounding letters — G, I, K, N, O, and Y — create a mix that feels open once you find a groove, but oddly restrictive at the start. Vowels help words stretch longer, while K and Y funnel you toward very specific constructions. Overall, the puzzle opens up gradually rather than all at once.

NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: January 5, 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.

  • AGAIN
  • AGING
  • AGOG
  • AGONY
  • AKIN
  • ANGINA
  • ANION
  • ANNOY
  • ANNOYING
  • ANON
  • GAGA
  • GAGGING
  • GAIN
  • NAGGING
  • NAGGY
  • NANA
  • NANNY
  • NANNYING
  • NONAGON
  • YANKING
  • YOGA

This puzzle strongly encourages experimenting with repeated letters. Once you discover a base word like GAG, NAG, or YANK, it’s worth trying doubled consonants and adding common endings like -ING. Several of the longer answers grow directly out of their shorter counterparts, making momentum important. If you stalled early, revisiting four-letter words often helped restart progress.

Another helpful approach today was scanning for familiar sound patterns rather than full words. Seeing shapes like “-ING,” “-Y,” or “-ON” made it easier to test possibilities quickly. While not every attempt landed, the board rewarded curiosity and patience more than brute force guessing.

Pangram of the day

The pangram for January 5, 2026 is OKAYING. It works because it naturally incorporates every letter in the hive without feeling awkward or obscure. The word uses repetition and a common verb ending, which makes it deceptively easy to overlook. Once you see it, though, it often sparks a cascade of related discoveries and confirms you’ve truly covered the entire letter set.

Quick tactics for any puzzle

  1. Start with the center letter.
    Since every word must include it, try building short “roots” with that letter first, then expand.
  2. 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.
  3. Anagram your discoveries.
    Once you’ve found a word, shuffle its letters around — you’ll often uncover two or three more.
  4. Use repeated letters.
    Remember, the same letter can appear more than once. Doubling letters opens up words you might otherwise overlook.
  5. 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

  • Begin with easy 4-letter words to get your brain moving.
  • Rotate vowels and consonants through different combinations to see what “clicks.”
  • 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.

Final thoughts

January 5’s Spelling Bee is a satisfying slow burn, rewarding players who stick with it and explore word families fully. Whether you chased every repeated-letter combo or stumbled onto the pangram by chance, this hive had plenty to offer. How many words did you manage to find today, and did OKAYING jump out early or late for you?