NYT Connections hints answers today November 12 puzzle #885 helps players solve the latest word association challenge from The New York Times. Each day, NYT Connections presents 16 words that must be grouped into four related sets. This explainer provides today’s full NYT Connections hints, answers, categories, and a guide on how to play NYT Connections puzzle #885 released on November 12, 2025. It includes every detail to help you identify the right word connections and complete the puzzle correctly.

NYT Connections hints answers today November 12 puzzle #885

NYT Connections is a daily word association game by The New York Times. Each day, it offers 16 words that must be divided into four categories. Every category connects four related words. The game uses colors to mark the difficulty level of each category — yellow for easy, green for moderate, blue for tricky, and purple for the hardest.

Players aim to identify the link between the words and group them correctly in as few guesses as possible. Each player gets four attempts to solve the entire puzzle. The game can be played online or through the NYT Games app.

NYT Connections hints clues today November 12 puzzle #885

The puzzle released on November 12, 2025, is listed as Connections puzzle #885. Below are the hints for each color category:

• Yellow category hint: Competitive games
  
  
• Green category hint: Stupid
  
  
• Blue category hint: Gen Z language
  
  
• Purple category hint: Words in Spanish
  
  

These hints help players narrow down the possible groupings before viewing the final answers.

NYT Connections categories today November 12 puzzle #885

The official categories for NYT Connections puzzle #885 on November 12, 2025, are:

• Yellow – SPORTS
  
  
• Green – DOOFUS
  
  
• Blue – ACRONYMS
  
  
• Purple – SPANISH WORDS
  
  

If your puzzle looks different, you may be seeing a previous day’s challenge. Check the November 11 puzzle for earlier answers if needed.

NYT Connections answers solution today November 12 puzzle #885

Here are the full NYT Connections answers today for puzzle #885:

• Yellow – SPORTS: GOLF, JUDO, POLO, SUMO
  
  
• Green – DOOFUS: BOZO, DODO, DOPE, YO-YO
  
  
• Blue – ACRONYMS: BOGO, FOMO, GOAT, YOLO
  
  
• Purple – SPANISH WORDS: COMO, LOCO, POCO, ROJO
  
  

These groups are organized by their shared meanings or origins. Once solved, the puzzle marks the correct sets and clears the board for the next challenge.

How to play NYT Connections?

NYT Connections gives players a grid of 16 words. The goal is to find four sets of four related words. Each correct set is color-coded and locked once submitted.

Basic steps to play:

• Look over all 16 words.
  
  
• Identify the most obvious link.
  
  
• Select four words that share a connection.
  
  
• Submit the group.
  
  
• Continue forming other sets.
  
  
• Use the “Shuffle” button to rearrange words when stuck.
  
  

If all four sets are correct, the puzzle is solved. Players get four total attempts before the game resets for the next day.

Tips for solving NYT Connections puzzles

• Start with the easiest group, usually yellow.
  
  
• Watch for similar-sounding or double-meaning words.
  
  
• Avoid rushing through guesses.
  
  
• Use shuffling to notice new patterns.
  
  
• Keep an eye out for cultural slang and foreign words.
  
  

Remember, a new puzzle appears every day at midnight local time.

FAQs

Q1: What are the NYT Connections hints answers today November 12 puzzle #885?
A1: The hints are SPORTS, DOOFUS, ACRONYMS, and SPANISH WORDS, each with four matching words listed in the full answer guide above.

Q2: How do I play NYT Connections puzzle #885 for November 12?
A2: Open the NYT Games website, view the 16-word grid, and find four related word groups. Use hints, shuffling, and logical matching to solve within four attempts.