NYT Connections Answer Today (#1197) – 20 Sep 2026 Solution & Hints
- About Today’s Connections
- The 16 Words
- Definitions of the 16 Words
- General Hints
- Category Titles
- One Word per Category
- Complete Solution (Click to Reveal)
About Today’s Connections
Puzzle #1197 (published 20 Sep 2026). Sort 16 words into four groups of four, based on a hidden connection. Some words look like they belong together and don’t — that’s by design.
The 16 Words
Here are the 16 words, sorted alphabetically to avoid spoilers:
- BLADE
- BLUEGRASS
- BLU-RAY
- BOURBON
- COASTER
- DERBY
- FRIED CHICKEN
- HOVER
- NEAR DARK
- SAND DOLLAR
- SINNERS
- SKATE
- SNOW
- SURF
- TORTILLA
- TWILIGHT
Definitions of the 16 Words
| BLADE | A 1998 film about a half-vampire warrior who hunts creatures of the night. |
| BLUEGRASS | A folk music style rooted in Appalachia and closely tied to one U.S. state’s heritage. |
| BLU-RAY | An optical disc format used for storing high-definition video. |
| BOURBON | A type of American whiskey traditionally distilled in one particular state. |
| COASTER | A small mat placed under a drink to protect a table’s surface. |
| DERBY | An annual horse race held each spring in a well-known Southern city. |
| FRIED CHICKEN | A dish of chicken coated and cooked in hot oil, famously tied to a well-known fast-food chain. |
| HOVER | To float or stay suspended in one place without drifting away. |
| NEAR DARK | A 1987 cult film that blends horror with a Western setting. |
| SAND DOLLAR | A flat, disc-shaped sea creature often found washed up on beaches. |
| SINNERS | A 2025 horror film that mixes supernatural terror with a Southern musical backdrop. |
| SKATE | To glide smoothly over a surface using wheels or blades. |
| SNOW | Frozen precipitation that blankets the ground in cold weather. |
| SURF | To ride ocean waves, typically while standing upright on a board. |
| TORTILLA | A thin, round flatbread made from corn or wheat, common in Mexican cuisine. |
| TWILIGHT | A film franchise centered on a romance between a human and a vampire. |
General Hints
- Think of everyday objects that all share a round, flattened shape.
- Every item in this group traces back to the culture of one particular U.S. state.
- Each title on this list puts bloodsucking creatures of the night on screen.
- These four words each finish a compound word for gear you stand on to travel.
Category Titles
- 🟨 Yellow: Round Flat Things
- 🟩 Green: Associated with Kentucky
- 🟦 Blue: Vampire Movies
- 🟪 Purple: ___Boards You Ride On
One Word per Category
- 🟨 Yellow: TORTILLA
- 🟩 Green: BOURBON
- 🟦 Blue: TWILIGHT
- 🟪 Purple: SURF
Complete Solution
The full breakdown is below — tap to reveal all four groups:
[CLICK TO REVEAL: Full Solution]
NYT Connections #1197 — Full Groups
- 🟨 Yellow: Round Flat Things → BLU-RAY, COASTER, SAND DOLLAR, TORTILLA
- 🟩 Green: Associated with Kentucky → BLUEGRASS, BOURBON, DERBY, FRIED CHICKEN
- 🟦 Blue: Vampire Movies → BLADE, NEAR DARK, SINNERS, TWILIGHT
- 🟪 Purple: ___Boards You Ride On → HOVER, SKATE, SNOW, SURF
The purple group is the sneaky one today, since HOVER, SKATE, SNOW, and SURF all read as ordinary standalone words until you realize each one is secretly missing its other half.
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