Strands · Hints and answers
Strands hints and answers for Monday, October 12, 2026
Monday's Strands board talks about talking: five theme words for the way a place, a trade or a group speaks, plus a 12-letter spangram that is itself a phrase about phrases. The NYT clue puts it in a manner of speaking.
Hints, in order
Hint 0 of 3Tap to show one hint at a time.
Hint 1 of 3
Think of how people speak: the local way of talking, the insiders' talk of a trade, and the everyday speech of ordinary people.
Hint 2 of 3
Every theme word names a kind of speech: two for regional or home-grown talk, two for specialized talk, and one borrowed from French for everyday language.
Hint 3 of 3
The spangram is three words pushed together, 12 letters: TURN OF PHRASE, a phrase that is itself a phrase about phrases.
Spangram and theme words
The spangram first, then all five theme words.
SPANGRAM
TURNOFPHRASE
DIALECTTheme word
JARGONTheme word
LINGOTheme word
PARLANCETheme word
VERNACULARTheme word
Next on the board
NYT Mini Crossword →
A 5x5 grid. Show one answer at a time, or open the full grid.