Spelling Bee hints & answers: Jan 28, 2026 (Puzzle #22718)

This page shows spoiler‑layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Jan 28, 2026 (2026-01-28 · Puzzle #22718).

Hive overview

This hive centers on L with six outer letters. It has 41 stored words, 1 pangram, and about 165 available points before rank thresholds.

A
F
O
L
R
U
V
Show structure hint

This hive has 41 playable words worth about 165 points in total. Aim to unlock the pangram and a few long words early to get ahead of the ranking curve.

There is 1 pangram hidden in this hive.

Show word-count hints

Word count matrix (starting letter × length):

L
4 letters7
5 letters2
6 letters1
7+ letters
Total10
A
4 letters
5 letters3
6 letters
7+ letters2
Total5
F
4 letters6
5 letters4
6 letters2
7+ letters2
Total14
O
4 letters2
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters
Total4
R
4 letters1
5 letters1
6 letters
7+ letters
Total2
U
4 letters
5 letters1
6 letters1
7+ letters
Total2
V
4 letters
5 letters2
6 letters2
7+ letters
Total4
Σ
4 letters16
5 letters14
6 letters7
7+ letters4
Total41

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

  • Good Start: 0 pts
  • Moving Up: 3 pts
  • Good: 8 pts
  • Solid: 13 pts
  • Nice: 25 pts
  • Great: 41 pts
  • Amazing: 66 pts
  • Genius: 115 pts
  • Queen Bee: 165 pts

Check your current score in the NYT game to see how close you are to each rank.

Reveal full answer list (spoiler)

Full answer list for today's hive (alphabetical):

  • AFOUL
    5
    5
    No
  • ALFALFA
    7
    7
    No
  • ALOOF
    5
    5
    No
  • AURAL
    5
    5
    No
  • AURORAL
    7
    7
    No
  • FALL
    4
    1
    No
  • FALLOFF
    7
    7
    No
  • FLAVOR
    6
    6
    No
  • FLAVORFUL
    9
    16
    Yes
  • FLOOR
    5
    5
    No
  • FLORA
    5
    5
    No
  • FLORAL
    6
    6
    No
  • FLOUR
    5
    5
    No
  • FLUFF
    5
    5
    No
  • FOAL
    4
    1
    No
  • FOOL
    4
    1
    No
  • FOUL
    4
    1
    No
  • FULL
    4
    1
    No
  • FURL
    4
    1
    No
  • LARVA
    5
    5
    No
  • LARVAL
    6
    6
    No
  • LAVA
    4
    1
    No
  • LOAF
    4
    1
    No
  • LOLL
    4
    1
    No
  • LOOFA
    5
    5
    No
  • LUAU
    4
    1
    No
  • LUFF
    4
    1
    No
  • LULL
    4
    1
    No
  • LULU
    4
    1
    No
  • OFFAL
    5
    5
    No
  • ORAL
    4
    1
    No
  • OVAL
    4
    1
    No
  • OVULAR
    6
    6
    No
  • ROLL
    4
    1
    No
  • RURAL
    5
    5
    No
  • UVULA
    5
    5
    No
  • UVULAR
    6
    6
    No
  • VALOR
    5
    5
    No
  • VULVA
    5
    5
    No
  • VULVAL
    6
    6
    No
  • VULVAR
    6
    6
    No

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