The New York Times’ Strands puzzle is a new take on the classic word search, currently in beta and requiring daily participation to continue. Each day presents a new grid of letters, challenging players to find words with a common theme provided as a clue, which will be highlighted in blue once found. In addition to the theme words, players must also locate a special word called a spangram, highlighted in yellow, linking opposite sides of the board.
Today’s theme hint for the Strands puzzle is “Pardon my French!” along with an additional hint to assist in solving the puzzle. Players are encouraged to scroll slowly to reveal the answer words after reading the hint. The spangram for today’s puzzle is “LOANWORDS,” which connects opposite sides of the grid. Once the spangram is identified, it usually becomes easier to find the remaining words related to the theme.
The themed words for today’s Strands puzzle are Beret, Chauffeur, Bureau, Aperitif, Chic, and Liaison. These words all have a French connection, as indicated by the theme hint. While the official theme was straightforward, the challenge arose from the complexity of some French words. Despite the difficulty in spelling French loanwords, players were able to solve the puzzle by identifying common French terms like beret, chauffeur, and aperitif.
The player’s journey to uncover the Strands answers began with the identification of beret, followed by other French loanwords like chauffeur and bureau. Additional words like aperitif and chic were discovered as the player navigated through the grid, ultimately leading to the completion of the spangram “LOANWORDS.” The puzzle ended with the word liaison, showcasing a variety of French loanwords without any common cliches included in the mix.
Despite initial difficulties in spelling French loanwords, the player successfully completed today’s Strands puzzle by identifying words related to the theme hint of “Pardon my French!” This experience showcases the interactive and engaging nature of the Strands game, where players are challenged to explore vocabulary and find connections between words of a common theme. Stay tuned for more daily Strands puzzles and continue to test your skills in word search challenges.
