How to Play NYT Spelling Bee
Build words from seven letters, always include the highlighted center letter, and work toward finding every answer and pangram.
Reviewed by the NYT Spelling Bee editorial team · Updated August 7, 2026
Core rules
Every word must contain at least four letters.
Every word must include the center letter.
Letters may be reused more than once.
Proper nouns, hyphenated words, and most obscure terms are excluded.
How scoring works
AnswerPointsFour-letter word1 pointFive letters or longer1 point per letterPangramWord points + 7 bonus points
What is a pangram?
A pangram uses all seven letters at least once. Letters can repeat, so a pangram may be longer than seven letters. Every daily puzzle includes at least one.
Practical solving tips
Start with familiar prefixes and suffixes such as re-, un-, -ing, and -ed.
Shuffle the outer letters when you stop seeing new combinations.
Look for short words first, then extend them into longer forms.
Track which outer letters you have not paired with the center letter.
Search for the pangram by testing combinations that use every letter family.
Worked example
Imagine that the center letter is A and the outer letters are C, E, L, M, N, R, plus one other letter. Start by looking for ordinary four-letter words that contain A, then test whether a familiar ending can make a longer word. A pangram must use every letter in that day's hive at least once; it can be longer than seven letters because letters may repeat. This method is more reliable than guessing one long word first.
Ranks and puzzle progress
Your score increases as you submit accepted words. The progress control shows the next rank, from Beginner through Queen Bee. Rank thresholds are calculated from the total available puzzle score, so the number of points required changes with the day's word list. Your found words, score, and streak remain on the device where you play.
Word-list choices and corrections
This game uses a curated daily word list. It excludes proper nouns, hyphenated forms, and many obscure terms so that play remains approachable. A word accepted in another game or dictionary may not be accepted here. If you find a broken puzzle or factual mistake in this guide, please report it through the project issue tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Can letters be used more than once?
Yes. Any of the seven letters may be reused as many times as needed.
What is a pangram?
A pangram is a valid answer that uses all seven letters in the hive at least once.
Does every word need the center letter?
Yes. Every accepted word must contain the highlighted center letter.
