The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

CHKMNUI

Friday, September 12, 2025

Words
19
Points
74
Genius
51
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 19 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • chic

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • chichi

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • chick

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • chin

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • cinch

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • cumin

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • hick

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • inch

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • kick

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • kimchi

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • kink

    noun — A tight curl, twist, or bend in a length of thin material, hair etc.

    noun — A difficulty or flaw that is likely to impede operation, as in a plan or system.

    noun — Peculiarity or deviation in sexual behaviour or taste.

    verb — To form a kink or twist.

    verb — To be formed into a kink or twist.

    noun — An unreasonable notion; a crotchet; a whim; a caprice.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • mimic

    noun — A person who practices mimicry, or mime.

    verb — To imitate, especially in order to ridicule.

    adjective — Pertaining to mimicry; imitative.

    noun — An imitation.

    verb — To take on the appearance of another, for protection or camouflage.

    adjective — Mock, pretended.

    Appeared in 14 recorded puzzles.

  • mini

    adjective — Miniature, tiny, small.

    noun — A miniskirt.

    noun — A minicomputer.

    Appeared in 19 recorded puzzles.

  • minim

    noun — A half note, drawn as a semibreve with a stem.

    noun — Anything very minute; applied to animalcula and the like.

    noun — A unit of volume, in the Imperial and U.S. customary systems, 1/60 fluid drachm. Approximately equal to 1 drop, 62 μL or 0.9 grain (weight) of water.

    noun — A short vertical stroke used in handwriting.

    noun — A little man or being; a dwarf.

    noun — A small fish; a minnow.

    Appeared in 19 recorded puzzles.

  • minimum

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • mink

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • munchkin

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • nick

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • unkink

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • ch×4
  • ci×1
  • cu×1
  • hi×1
  • in×1
  • ki×3
  • mi×5
  • mu×1
  • ni×1
  • un×1

Words by first letter and length

45678Σ
c 231·· 6
h 1···· 1
i 1···· 1
k 2·1·· 3
m 22·11 6
n 1···· 1
u ··1·· 1
Σ 95311 19

The numbers

Genius today takes 51 points of 74 available. The average answer runs 4.9 letters.

Total points vs. all 380 recorded puzzles
1st percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
1st percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17231 recorded answers

49 today34.6% all-time55 today22.8% all-time63 today19.9% all-time71 today12.1% all-time81 today6.3% all-time92.6% all-time101.2% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
c Thursday, September 11, 2025 Thursday, September 11, 2025
h Monday, September 8, 2025 Tuesday, July 22, 2025
i ● Thursday, September 11, 2025 Monday, August 18, 2025
k Thursday, September 11, 2025 Friday, August 29, 2025
m Tuesday, September 9, 2025 Tuesday, August 26, 2025
n Thursday, September 11, 2025 Tuesday, September 9, 2025
u Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 41
  2. naan 30
  3. nana 30
  4. onion 28
  5. toot 28
  6. loll 27
  7. mama 25
  8. mamma 25
  9. cocoon 23
  10. nene 23
  11. acacia 22
  12. acai 22
  13. bill 22
  14. loon 22
  15. aria 21
  16. onto 21
  17. toon 21
  18. cancan 21
  19. canna 21
  20. neon 21
  21. none 21
  22. olio 21
  23. lilt 20
  24. till 20
  25. tilt 20

Valid words the Bee rejected

Dictionary words the Bee never takes

Legitimate words (per the ENABLE list) that fit the letters but aren't official answers — usually judged too obscure.