The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ILRTUVA

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Words
57
Points
252
Genius
176
Pangram
1

Official answers

Show the 57 answersHide answers

Pangram highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • alit

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • alluvial

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • altar

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • aria

    noun — A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.

    Appeared in 22 recorded puzzles.

  • aril

    noun — A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • arrival

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • atilt

    adjective — At an angle from the vertical or horizontal.

    adverb — At an angle from the vertical or horizontal; at the point of falling over.

    preposition — Diagonally over or across.

    adverb — Tilting or as if tilting (charging with a lance, like a knight on horseback in a joust).

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • atria

    noun — A central room or space in ancient Roman homes, open to the sky in the middle; a similar space in other buildings.

    noun — A square hall lit by daylight from above, into which rooms open at one or more levels.

    noun — A cavity, entrance, or passage.

    noun — Any enclosed sexine and nexine layers, widening toward the interior of the grain.

    Appeared in 16 recorded puzzles.

  • atrial

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • attar

    noun — An essential oil extracted from flowers.

    noun — A perfume made from this oil.

    Appeared in 14 recorded puzzles.

  • aura

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • aural

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • avail

    noun — Effect in achieving a goal or aim; purpose, use (now usually in negative constructions).

    verb — To turn to the advantage of.

    noun — Proceeds; profits from business transactions.

    noun — An advertising slot or package.

    noun — A press avail.

    noun — Non-binding notice of availability for work.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • avatar

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • lair

    noun — A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground.

    noun — A place inhabited by a criminal or criminals, a superhero or a supervillain; a refuge, retreat, haven or hideaway.

    noun — A shed or shelter for domestic animals.

    noun — A bed or resting place.

    noun — A grave; a cemetery plot.

    verb — To rest; to dwell.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • lariat

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • larva

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • larval

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • lava

    noun — The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides.

    noun — Magma.

    noun — A shade of red, named after the volcanic lava.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • liar

    noun — One who tells lies.

    noun — A swabber responsible for cleaning the outside parts of the ship rather than the cabins, a role traditionally assigned to a person caught telling a lie the previous week.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • lira

    noun — The basic unit of currency in Turkey.

    noun — The former currency of Italy, Malta, San Marino, Cyprus and the Vatican City, superseded by the euro

    noun — The former currency of Israel, superseded by the sheqel.

    noun — The currency of Lebanon (also pound), Syria (also pound), Jordan (also dinar)

    noun — A Ukrainian folk musical instrument similar to the hurdy-gurdy.

    noun — Any of a set of fine ridges on the shells of some molluscs

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • luau

    noun — An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • rail

    noun — The metal bar that makes the track for a railroad.

    noun — A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.

    noun — A railroad; a railway, as a means of transportation.

    noun — A horizontal piece of wood that serves to separate sections of a door or window.

    verb — To criticize severely.

    noun — Any of several birds in the family Rallidae.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • raita

    noun — A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt.

    Appeared in 16 recorded puzzles.

  • ratatat

    noun — A swiftly repeated knocking sound.

    Appeared in 14 recorded puzzles.

  • rattail

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • rial

    noun — The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen.

    noun — An old gold coin of England.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • ritual

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rival

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • rural

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • tail

    noun — The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus.

    noun — The back, last, lower, or inferior part of anything.

    noun — (chiefly in the plural) The side of a coin not bearing the head; normally the side on which the monetary value of the coin is indicated; the reverse.

    noun — The tail-end of an object, e.g. the rear of an aircraft's fuselage, containing the tailfin.

    verb — To follow and observe surreptitiously.

    noun — The latter part of a time period or event, or (collectively) persons or objects represented in this part.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • tali

    noun — The bone of the ankle.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • tall

    adjective — (of a person) Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.

    adjective — (of a building, etc.) Having its top a long way up; having a great vertical (and often greater than horizontal) extent; high.

    adjective — (of a story) Hard to believe, such as a tall story or a tall tale.

    adjective — (of a cup of coffee) A cup of coffee smaller than grande, usually 8 ounces.

    noun — (possibly nonstandard) Someone or something that is tall.

    Appeared in 13 recorded puzzles.

  • tallit

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • tart

    adjective — Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.

    noun — A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, containing jelly or conserve; a sort of fruit pie.

    noun — A prostitute.

    verb — To practice prostitution

    adjective — (of wine) high or too high in acidity.

    adjective — Sharp; keen; severe.

    Appeared in 14 recorded puzzles.

  • tartar

    noun — A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate - a source of cream of tartar.

    noun — A fearsome or angrily violent person.

    noun — A hard yellow deposit on the teeth.

    Appeared in 14 recorded puzzles.

  • taut

    adjective — Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight.

    adjective — (of a body, muscles, etc.) Not flabby; firm, toned; (of a person) having a lean, strong body.

    adjective — (of music, writing, etc.) Containing only relevant parts; brief and controlled.

    adjective — (of a sailor, a ship, etc.) Neat and well-disciplined; (by extension) efficient and in order.

    adjective — Experiencing anxiety or stress.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • tiara

    noun — The papal crown.

    noun — An ornamental coronet.

    Appeared in 16 recorded puzzles.

  • titular

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • trail

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • trait

    noun — An identifying characteristic, habit or trend.

    noun — An uninstantiable collection of methods that provides functionality to a class by using the class’s own interface.

    Appeared in 16 recorded puzzles.

  • travail

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • trial

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • trivia

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • trivial

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • ultra

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • uvula

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • uvular

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • vault

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • vial

    noun — A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small tube-shaped bottle used to store medicine, perfume or other chemical.

    verb — To put or keep in, or as in, a vial.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • villa

    noun — (plural "villas") A house, often larger and more expensive than average, in the countryside or on the coast, often used as a retreat.

    noun — (plural "villas") A family house, often semi-detached, in a middle class street.

    noun — (plural "villae") A country house, with farm buildings around a courtyard.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • viral

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • virtual

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • vital

    adjective — Relating to, or characteristic of life.

    adjective — Necessary to the continuation of life; being the seat of life; being that on which life depends.

    adjective — Invigorating or life-giving.

    adjective — Necessary to continued existence.

    adjective — Relating to the recording of life events.

    adjective — Very important.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • vulva

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • vulval

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • vulvar

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

virtual is a perfect pangram — all seven letters, each used exactly once.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • al×3
  • ar×3
  • at×4
  • au×2
  • av×2
  • la×5
  • li×2
  • lu×1
  • ra×4
  • ri×3
  • ru×1
  • ta×7
  • ti×2
  • tr×6
  • ul×1
  • uv×2
  • va×1
  • vi×5
  • vu×3

Words by first letter and length

45678Σ
a 46211 14
l 512·· 8
r 2312· 8
t 5433· 15
u ·21·· 3
v 1521· 9
Σ 17211171 57

The numbers

Genius today takes 176 points of 252 available. The average answer runs 5.2 letters.

Total points vs. all 398 recorded puzzles
70th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
77th percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 17987 recorded answers

417 today34.6% all-time521 today22.8% all-time611 today19.9% all-time77 today12.0% all-time81 today6.3% all-time92.6% all-time101.3% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a ● Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Thursday, April 23, 2026
i Monday, May 4, 2026 Thursday, March 26, 2026
l Monday, May 4, 2026 Monday, May 4, 2026
r Sunday, May 3, 2026 Sunday, April 26, 2026
t Monday, May 4, 2026 Wednesday, April 8, 2026
u Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Thursday, April 30, 2026
v Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 42
  2. onion 31
  3. naan 30
  4. nana 30
  5. toot 29
  6. loll 29
  7. mama 26
  8. mamma 26
  9. acacia 24
  10. acai 24
  11. olio 24
  12. cocoon 23
  13. loon 23
  14. nene 23
  15. aria 22
  16. imam 22
  17. maim 22
  18. bill 22
  19. mini 22
  20. minim 22
  21. neon 22
  22. none 22
  23. lilt 21
  24. till 21
  25. tilt 21

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.