NYT Spelling Bee - Hints & Answers - Dec 12, 2025
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 19 |
| G: | 7 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 20 |
| L: | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | – | 11 |
| N: | 3 | – | – | 3 | – | 1 | – | – | 7 |
| Z: | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 5 |
| Σ | 16 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 62 |
Words found: 62
11 letters (1)
10 letters (1)
9 letters (3)
8 letters (4)
7 letters (14)
6 letters (11)
5 letters (12)
4 letters (16)
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 19 |
| G: | 7 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 20 |
| L: | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | – | 11 |
| N: | 3 | – | – | 3 | – | 1 | – | – | 7 |
| Z: | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 5 |
| Σ | 16 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 62 |
Answer Definitions for Spelling Bee - Dec 12, 2025
Here are definitions and hints for all of the words in today's Spelling Bee. Use this to fill in any missing words and get that coveted Queen Bee title. Click letter by letter to reveal the word without risking any spoilers.
Daily Game Solvers, Hints and Answers
We help you solve your favourite daily game
How to use the Spelling Bee Solver
Stuck on today’s New York Times Spelling Bee? We’ve got you covered. At The Word Finder, you’ll find today’s Spelling Bee answers, hints, pangram, a full word list and answer definitions — updated daily at midnight Eastern Time.
1. Puzzle is autofilled
The Spelling Bee Solver will autofill today’s puzzle with every valid word combination for the current hive.
2. Choose a date
Playing an old puzzle? Use the date picker to jump to previous puzzles. We update daily at midnight Eastern Time.
3. Click to reveal
Click to reveal what you need—either all Spelling Bee answers or specific word lengths.
4. Check the Frequency grid
Check the frequency grid to see which letters most words start with, helping you focus on the most likely guesses.
5. See Answer Definitions
All words have definitions and hints. Reveal the whole word or click letter by letter to reveal a single letter.
Understanding the NYT Spelling Bee Game
The New York Times Spelling Bee is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times that challenges you to create as many words as possible from a set of seven unique letters. At the heart of the puzzle is the center letter, which must appear in every word you submit. The ultimate goal is to find all possible words, including the elusive pangram — a word that uses every letter at least once.
Rules and Format
Each day, the Spelling Bee presents a new set of seven letters arranged in a honeycomb. One letter sits in the center, and it must be included in every valid word. Words must be at least four letters long. Proper nouns, abbreviations, hyphenated words, and extremely obscure terms are not accepted. There’s no time limit, so you can play at your own pace.
Scoring System
Points are awarded based on word length. Four-letter words are worth one point each, and longer words earn more points. Pangrams, which use all seven letters, earn a significant bonus and are essential for reaching the highest ranks. Many players aim for the Genius level or even the perfect Queen Bee score.
How Letters Are Chosen
Letter sets are carefully curated by the NYT Spelling Bee editors to balance difficulty and fun. Every hive includes at least one pangram and a mix of shorter and longer words so that beginners and experts alike have something to chase.
What Counts as a Valid Word?
Valid words must:
- Be at least four letters long.
- Include the center letter.
- Use only the seven letters shown in the hive (letters may be reused).
- Appear in the game’s accepted word list.
Plurals and common verb forms are usually allowed, but proper nouns, acronyms, and hyphenated words are typically rejected. Learning which kinds of words the game accepts will help you score higher over time.
Achieving the Highest Rank
Each puzzle has a series of ranks based on the percentage of total possible points you earn. As your score climbs, you advance through levels like “Good,” “Great,” and “Amazing,” all the way up to Genius and Queen Bee . Every new word nudges you closer to the top, making the game incredibly addictive and satisfying.
Use our Spelling Bee Answers tool to check every word, track your progress, and reach Genius level.
Tips for Mastering the NYT Spelling Bee
- Start with the center letter. Brainstorm as many words as you can that feature the center letter, then extend outward with the remaining letters.
- Play with prefixes and suffixes. Try combinations like UN-, RE-, OVER-, -ED, -ER, -ING to turn one base word into several valid entries.
- Look for common letter pairs. Patterns such as ST, TH, CH, NT, EX can unlock clusters of related words.
- Hunt for pangrams. Words that use all seven letters deliver a big score boost and are often key to reaching Genius.
- Take short breaks. If you hit a wall, step away and come back with fresh eyes—you’ll often see new possibilities immediately.
- Shuffle the hive. Reordering the outer letters can help you spot patterns you missed the first time.
- Think in word families. When you find a root word, look for related nouns, adjectives, and verbs built from the same stem.
- Don’t ignore short words. Short four-letter words add up quickly and are essential for boosting your score.
- Keep a personal word list. Jot down tricky or unusual words you learn; they often reappear in future puzzles.
- Challenge yourself with time limits. Set a 5–10 minute timer and see how many words you can find to sharpen both speed and recall.
Above all, stay curious and have fun. The more you play, the better you’ll get at spotting patterns, expanding your vocabulary, and mastering the NYT Spelling Bee.
The History of the NYT Spelling Bee
The New York Times Spelling Bee was launched in 2018 by puzzle editor Sam Ezersky as part of the NYT Games collection. Designed as a modern twist on the classic spelling challenge, it quickly became a fan favorite for its simple yet addictive format — seven letters arranged in a honeycomb, one center letter required in every word.
Unlike traditional timed puzzles, Spelling Bee rewards patience, vocabulary, and creativity. Players climb ranks from “Beginner” to the coveted “Queen Bee.” Today, it’s one of the most-played and most-discussed word games in the world.
NYT Spelling Bee Community
Are you passionate about finding the latest NYT Spelling Bee answers and connecting with fellow puzzle enthusiasts? You’re not alone — there’s a vibrant NYT Spelling Bee community across the web, including the official NYT Spelling Bee forums and an active Reddit community, where fans share daily answers, discuss challenging puzzles, and exchange helpful hints and strategies.
Whether you’re looking for today’s answers, tips to reach Genius level, or just want to celebrate a tough pangram, these communities are the perfect place to connect. Share your favorite words, get help with tricky puzzles, and discover new strategies to improve your Spelling Bee score.
NYT Spelling Bee for Beginners: Getting Started
If you’re new to the NYT Spelling Bee, welcome to one of the most engaging and rewarding word games around. This quick guide covers the basics so you can start finding more words and climbing the ranks.
How to Play the NYT Spelling Bee
- The puzzle layout: Each day, you’re presented with seven unique letters arranged in a honeycomb. One letter is always in the center — this is the required letter and must appear in every word.
- Forming words: Your goal is to make as many words as possible using the seven letters. Words must be at least four letters long, and you can use each letter as many times as you like.
- Using all letters: To maximize your score, try to find words that use all seven letters at least once — these are called pangrams and are worth the most points.
- Submitting answers: Type your words into the game. If the word is valid, it will be added to your list and your score will increase.
Tips for Beginners
- Start by brainstorming words that use the center letter.
- Experiment with different combinations, prefixes, and suffixes.
- Shuffle the letters to see new possibilities in the hive.
- Focus on short four-letter words early — every point counts and builds momentum.
With these basics and a bit of practice, you’ll quickly get better at spotting hidden words and reaching higher ranks.
Glossary of NYT Spelling Bee Terms
New to Spelling Bee jargon? This quick glossary covers the core terms you’ll see in the game and in community discussions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Create as many words as possible using the seven provided letters. Every word must include the center letter and be at least four letters long.
Valid words must be at least four letters, use the center letter, and appear in the Spelling Bee’s accepted word list. Proper nouns, abbreviations, and hyphenated words are not allowed.
Points are awarded based on word length, with longer words and pangrams earning more points. Your rank increases as you accumulate more points throughout the puzzle.
A pangram is a word that uses all seven letters at least once. Finding the pangram is often key to reaching the highest ranks, including Genius and Queen Bee.
Focus on finding longer words, experiment with different letter combinations, and search for the pangram. Using daily hints and practicing regularly will help you uncover tricky words and steadily improve your score.