English Connections hints and rules
Play English Connections online. Looking for Connections today, a Connections hint, or Connections hints today? Select the words with a shared connection, submit the group, and find all the categories before your mistakes run out.
PlayWhat is English Connections?
English Connections is a category puzzle with words arranged into hidden groups. The goal is to discover the connection shared by each group.
The vocabulary-focused format turns category spotting into a short language-learning exercise: compare meanings, test a group, and remember the words that fit together.
How to play English Connections
Read the full board, select the words that share a connection, and submit the group. Correct groups move into solved category cards. Incorrect groups use one mistake, so keep testing the clearest links first.
- Read the whole board before making a selection.
- Select all the words that share a category.
- Submit the group to check your connection.
- Find every category before you run out of mistakes.
Controls
Select words
Tap or click the word cards in a group to select them. Tap a selected card again to remove it, or use Clear before submitting.
Submit a group
Use Submit after selecting a complete group. A correct group is revealed; an incorrect group counts as a mistake.
Mistakes
You have a limited number of mistakes. The exact limit depends on the selected difficulty.
Connections hints and solving tips
- Start with the group that has the clearest connection.
- Watch for words that could fit two different categories.
- Use solved groups to make the remaining links easier to see.
- Start with the category that has the most obvious link.
- Be careful with words that could belong to more than one group.
- Use solved categories to make the remaining connections easier to see.
- For a Connections hint, compare meanings before relying on spelling or word length.
Connected groups, one board
Every round contains four groups. Easy uses three words per group; Normal uses four; Medium, Hard, and Expert use five. You win when all four groups are solved. If you use all your mistakes first, the round ends and the categories are shown in the recap.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play English Connections for free?
Yes. Connections is free to play on Puzzlingo.
How many words are in a round?
Each round has four groups, with three, four, or five words per group depending on the selected difficulty.
Is this the official NYT Connections game?
Puzzlingo is an independent vocabulary game inspired by the category-grouping format. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times.
Do you publish the Connections today answer?
No. Each round is a playable vocabulary puzzle with its own board and replayable rounds rather than a daily answer archive.
What happens after a wrong guess?
A wrong group uses one mistake. Keep selecting groups until you solve every category or run out of mistakes.