NYT Spelling Bee Answers — May 16, 2026
All words, pangrams, center letter & Genius score
Below are all 64 answers to the New York Times Spelling Bee for May 16, 2026 (Saturday). The honeycomb shows the seven letters with the required A center letter; pangrams are highlighted. Genius is 200 points.
Words64
Max Points286
Pangrams3
Genius200
Pangrams: PANTHEON, PHAETON, PHONATE
All answers, grouped by length
4letter answers26 words
AEONANONANTEATOPHATEHATHHEAPHEATNAANNANANAPENEAPNEATOATHPANEPANTPAPAPATEPATHPEATPHATTAPATAPETEATTHANTHAT
5letter answers12 words
APNEAATONEEATENHATHAHEATHHENNANEATHOATENPAEANPOPPATHANETHETA
6letter answers11 words
ETHANEHAPPENNATANTNEATENNOTATEPATENTPEAHENPOTATOTATTOOTEAPOTTENANT
7letter answers9 words
ANNATTOANTENNAHEATHENHEPTANENEONATEPENNANTPENTANEPHAETONPHONATE
8letter answers4 words
ANNOTATEANTENNAEPANTHEONPATENTEE
9letter answers2 words
PANETTONEPOTENTATE
How the Spelling Bee works
The New York Times Spelling Bee gives you seven letters arranged in a honeycomb, with one required center letter. Build as many words as you can — every word must be at least four letters long and must use the center letter, and letters can be reused. Find a word that uses all seven letters and you've got a pangram, worth 7 bonus points. Reach the Genius rank by scoring 70% of the day's maximum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many answers are in the May 16, 2026 Spelling Bee?
There are 64 valid answers worth 286 points, including 3 pangrams. Genius requires 200 points.
What is the pangram?
The pangrams are PANTHEON, PHAETON, PHONATE. Pangrams use all seven letters and earn 7 bonus points.
What is the center letter?
The required center letter is A. Every valid answer must contain it.
How does scoring work?
4-letter words score 1 point; longer words score 1 point per letter; pangrams add 7 bonus points. Genius is 70% of the maximum score.
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