Spelling Bee hints & answers: Sep 30, 2026

This page shows spoiler-layered hints and full answers for the NYT Spelling Bee hive published on Sep 30, 2026 (2026-09-30).

Hive overview

This hive centers on P with six outer letters. It has 62 stored words, 2 pangrams, and about 305 available points before rank thresholds.

Show structure hint

This hive has 62 playable words worth about 305 points in total. Aim to unlock the pangram and a few long words early to get ahead of the ranking curve.

There are 2 pangrams hidden in this hive.

Show word-count hints

Word count matrix (starting letter × length):

	4	5	6	7+	Σ
P	4 letters12	5 letters8	6 letters11	7+ letters4	Total35
A	4 letters1	5 letters2	6 letters1	7+ letters1	Total5
C	4 letters1	5 letters1	6 letters2	7+ letters–	Total4
D	4 letters1	5 letters–	6 letters3	7+ letters5	Total9
E	4 letters1	5 letters–	6 letters–	7+ letters–	Total1
K	4 letters1	5 letters1	6 letters–	7+ letters3	Total5
N	4 letters2	5 letters–	6 letters1	7+ letters–	Total3
Σ	4 letters19	5 letters12	6 letters18	7+ letters13	Total62

Approximate rank thresholds for this hive:

Good Start: 0 pts
Moving Up: 6 pts
Good: 15 pts
Solid: 24 pts
Nice: 46 pts
Great: 76 pts
Amazing: 122 pts
Genius: 214 pts
Queen Bee: 305 pts

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

Show two-letter and length counts

Counts use the available unique accepted answers; they do not add dictionary guesses.

By length: 4 letters: 19 · 5 letters: 12 · 6 letters: 18 · 7 letters: 6 · 8 letters: 4 · 10 letters: 3

By first two letters: AP: 5 · CA: 4 · DA: 1 · DE: 8 · EP: 1 · KA: 1 · KE: 1 · KN: 3 · NA: 2 · NE: 1 · PA: 15 · PE: 20

Pangram 1

Show length and score

10 letters; worth 17 points. Some hive letters appear more than once.

Show letter pattern

The pangram starts with K and ends with D: K••••••••D.

Reveal this pangram

KNEECAPPED

Show score and letter coverage

KNEECAPPED: 10 letter points + 7 pangram bonus = 17 points. Uses all seven letters: A, C, D, E, K, N, P.

Pangram 2

Show length and score

8 letters; worth 15 points. Some hive letters appear more than once.

Show letter pattern

The pangram starts with P and ends with D: P••••••D.

Reveal this pangram

PANCAKED

Show score and letter coverage

PANCAKED: 8 letter points + 7 pangram bonus = 15 points. Uses all seven letters: A, C, D, E, K, N, P.

Reveal full answer list (spoiler)

Full answer list for this hive (alphabetical):

WordLengthScorePangram

APACE
5
5
No
APED
4
1
No
APNEA
5
5
No
APPEND
6
6
No
APPENDED
8
8
No
CANAPE
6
6
No
CAPE
4
1
No
CAPED
5
5
No
CAPPED
6
6
No
DAPPED
6
6
No
DEADPAN
7
7
No
DEADPANNED
10
10
No
DEEP
4
1
No
DEEPEN
6
6
No
DEEPENED
8
8
No
DEPEND
6
6
No
DEPENDED
8
8
No
DEPENDENCE
10
10
No
EPEE
4
1
No
KAPPA
5
5
No
KEEP
4
1
No
KNEECAP
7
7
No
KNEECAPPED
10
17
Yes
KNEEPAD
7
7
No
NAPE
4
1
No
NAPPED
6
6
No
NEAP
4
1
No
PACE
4
1
No
PACED
5
5
No
PACK
4
1
No
PACKED
6
6
No
PADDED
6
6
No
PAEAN
5
5
No
PANACEA
7
7
No
PANCAKE
7
7
No
PANCAKED
8
15
Yes
PANDA
5
5
No
PANDAN
6
6
No
PANE
4
1
No
PANED
5
5
No
PANNED
6
6
No
PAPA
4
1
No
PEACE
5
5
No
PEAK
4
1
No
PEAKED
6
6
No
PECAN
5
5
No
PECK
4
1
No
PECKED
6
6
No
PEED
4
1
No
PEEK
4
1
No
PEEKED
6
6
No
PEEN
4
1
No
PEEP
4
1
No
PEEPED
6
6
No
PEKE
4
1
No
PENANCE
7
7
No
PENCE
5
5
No
PEND
4
1
No
PENDED
6
6
No
PENNE
5
5
No
PENNED
6
6
No
PEPPED
6
6
No

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