The New York Times Spelling Bee for January 9, 2026 offers a satisfying mix of everyday words and trickier builds. As always, every valid word must be at least four letters long and include the center letter. Today’s letter set feels familiar at first, with plenty of common shapes, but it quietly rewards careful attention to repeats, prefixes, and longer constructions as you dig deeper.

About today’s puzzle

The center letter is H, surrounded by A, C, D, E, I, and P. The mix leans consonant-heavy, but friendly vowels keep it playable. The hive feels open early on, then slowly tightens, pushing you toward longer words, doubled letters, and creative extensions rather than endless short answers.

NYT Spelling Bee Words and Answers: January 9, 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.

  • ACHE
  • ACHED
  • AHEAD
  • APHID
  • CACHE
  • CACHED
  • CHAD
  • CHAI
  • CHAP
  • CHAPPED
  • CHEAP
  • CHEAPIE
  • CHIDED
  • CHIP
  • CHIPPED
  • DACHA
  • DEADHEAD
  • DEADHEADED
  • EACH
  • HEAD
  • HEADACHE
  • HEADED
  • HEAP
  • HEAPED
  • HEED
  • HEEDED
  • HIDE
  • HIPPIE
  • PEACH

Pangram of the day

HEADPIECE is today’s standout. It works because it neatly pulls together every letter in the hive while still feeling like a natural, everyday word. The repeated letters help bridge gaps between consonants, and the word builds cleanly from shorter finds like HEAD and PIECE-adjacent shapes, making it both logical and satisfying once spotted.

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 9’s puzzle is a great reminder that “simple” letter sets can still hide depth. If you found all 37 words or nailed the pangram early, well done. Share your score—or let me know how long HEADPIECE took you to see.