NYT Spelling Bee Answers & Hints — September 12, 2026
- 70Total words
- 284Total points
- 199Genius
- 1Pangram
The pangram for September 12, 2026
Every letter used at least once — worth a bonus 7 points on top of the length score.
Letter by letter
9 letters · tap any tile to reveal just that letter.
Spelling Bee hints for September 12, 2026
Three levels of help, gentlest first — take only as much as you need. Skip straight to the answers →
Words per starting letter
The gentlest nudge — which letters do the heavy lifting today.
Two-letter tally
How many words start with each pair — if a pair isn't here, nothing starts with it.
- ai1
- al1
- ar3
- at3
- im5
- la2
- li6
- ma6
- mi4
- pa6
- pi6
- pl1
- pr3
- ra3
- ri2
- ta7
- ti5
- tr6
Word length grid
The most specific spoiler-free hint — hunt a missing word by its length.
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 8 |
| I | 1 | – | 3 | – | – | 1 | 5 |
| L | 6 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 8 |
| M | 4 | – | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | 10 |
| P | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | – | 16 |
| R | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 5 |
| T | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | – | 18 |
| Σ | 30 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 70 |
Spelling Bee answers for September 12, 2026
The full word list, grouped by length — pangram first, then longest to shortest. Tap a group to reveal.
P
- impartial16
8
- malarial8
- palatial8
- taillamp8
7
- airmail7
- malaria7
- marital7
- martial7
- militia7
- papilla7
- partial7
- partita7
- pitapat7
- rattail7
- tilapia7
6
- armpit6
- atrial6
- impair6
- impala6
- impart6
- lariat6
- mitral6
- pillar6
- primal6
- tallit6
- tamari6
- tatami6
5
- atilt5
- atria5
- limit5
- pipit5
- plait5
- primp5
- raita5
- tapir5
- tiara5
- trail5
- trait5
- trial5
- trill5
4
- alit1
- aria1
- aril1
- imam1
- lair1
- liar1
- lilt1
- lima1
- limp1
- lira1
- mail1
- maim1
- mill1
- mitt1
- pail1
- pair1
- pill1
- pimp1
- pita1
- prim1
- rail1
- rial1
- rill1
- tail1
- tali1
- till1
- tilt1
- tipi1
- trim1
- trip1
Today's puzzle by the numbers
Difficulty, rank thresholds, pangram etymology and what makes today unusual.
Difficulty
6/ 10
A moderately challenging puzzle that runs well above average in both word count (70 vs. the historical mean of 44) and maximum score (284 vs. 204), meaning there is a lot to find but also plenty of footholds. The letter mix is rich in familiar combinations, so common short words come readily, but the longer answers demand careful attention to a cluster of similar-looking legal, anatomical, and cultural terms that are easy to conflate. The single pangram is a satisfying discovery for solvers who think in adjectives, though its length and doubled letters make it easy to overlook until late in a session.
Points per rank
| Rank | Points | % |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Bee 👑 | 284 | 100% |
| Genius | 199 | 70% |
| Amazing | 142 | 50% |
| Great | 114 | 40% |
| Nice | 71 | 25% |
| Solid | 43 | 15% |
| Good | 23 | 8% |
| Moving Up | 14 | 5% |
| Good Start | 6 | 2% |
| Beginner | 0 | 0% |
About the pangram
impartial16 pts
From Latin 'impartialis', combining the negative prefix 'im-' with 'partialis' (favoring a part or party), itself from 'pars' (part); the word entered English in the late 16th century to describe judges and arbiters who stood apart from any faction.
Puzzle facts
- Longest word9 letters
- 4-letter words30 of 70
- Pangram bonus+7 points
- Puzzles archived85
Try another puzzle
Two more NazoKai hints, ready when you are.