NYT Connections hints and answers today, #885 Nov 12
Looking for the NYT Connections hints and answers today #885 (Nov 12, 2025)? Here are all the clues, categories, and solutions to help you solve today’s tricky Connections puzzle by The New York Times.
NYT Connections Hints for Today (#885 – Nov 12, 2025)
Here are gentle hints to help you before you peek at the full answers:
- Yellow Group (Easy): Think of competitive physical activities.
- Green Group (Medium): Words describing a silly or foolish person.
- Blue Group (Hard): Acronyms — letters that stand for longer phrases.
- Purple Group (Tricky): Common words in Spanish.
Still need more help? Read on for today’s complete word list and solutions.
Today’s Word List
The 16 words in today’s NYT Connections puzzle are:
YOLO, POLO, LOCO, DODO, COMO, FOMO, JUDO, BOGO, BOZO, ROJO, YO-YO, SUMO, POCO, DOPE, GOLF, GOAT.
At first glance, many of these words end with an “-O,” which makes this puzzle extra confusing — several could fit into more than one category.
NYT Connections Answers for November 12, 2025 (#885)
Here are the confirmed answers for today’s puzzle, listed by category and color:
🟨 Yellow Group – SPORTS
GOLF, JUDO, POLO, SUMO
These are all competitive physical activities or sports.
🟩 Green Group – FOOLISH PERSON
BOZO, DODO, DOPE, YO-YO
Each word is a slang or humorous term for someone acting silly or dumb.
🟦 Blue Group – ACRONYMS
BOGO, FOMO, GOAT, YOLO
All of these are modern abbreviations or acronyms:
- BOGO – Buy One, Get One
- FOMO – Fear of Missing Out
- GOAT – Greatest of All Time
- YOLO – You Only Live Once
🟪 Purple Group – SPANISH WORDS
COMO, LOCO, POCO, ROJO
These are all common Spanish words that translate to “how,” “crazy,” “little,” and “red,” respectively.
Analysis of Today’s Puzzle (#885)
Today’s Connections puzzle was all about spotting language patterns. Nearly every word ended in “-O,” making it harder to see distinct groups. The acronyms and Spanish words both relied on short, punchy terms, which added to the difficulty.
The trickiest group for most solvers was the Purple category — not everyone realized how many of the words were Spanish vocabulary!
Tips for Solving NYT Connections Puzzles
Want to improve your solving streak? Try these tips:
- Spot common endings or prefixes – Words sharing similar endings often form a theme.
- Use process of elimination – Identify the easiest group first to narrow options.
- Think broadly – Some groups use slang, abbreviations, or language crossovers.
- Shuffle the board – Mixing up the word layout helps you see new patterns.
- Remember the color order:
- 🟨 Yellow – Easy
- 🟩 Green – Medium
- 🟦 Blue – Hard
- 🟪 Purple – Tricky
🗓️ Final Thoughts on NYT Connections #885 (Nov 12, 2025)
Puzzle #885 offered a fun mix of sports, slang, acronyms, and Spanish vocabulary — a great challenge for both beginners and seasoned players.
If you managed to find all four groups without using hints, congratulations! If not, keep practicing — tomorrow’s puzzle will bring a whole new set of words to explore.
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