Issue #916 Sat 5 Sep
NYT Strands Hints & Answer — September 5, 2026
A patient grid where the shorter answers arrive first and the longer ones ask you to stop reading them like real words. Nickname energy throughout.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
Someone at the zoo gate hands you a map and says the little guys are in Barn C, past the reptile shed.
Casual names for animals.
SMALL LIVING THING, USUALLY FURRED OR SCALED
Spangram 4 hints · 7 letters
The connector word
Single noun, informal register.
7 letters.
Starts with C, ends with R.
CRITTER
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (6 letters)
- 2 C (5 letters)
- 3 C (4 letters)
- 4 G (5 letters)
- 5 H (5 letters)
- 6 P (4 letters)
- 7 R (7 letters)
- 8 R (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BU (6 letters)
- 2 CH (5 letters)
- 3 CR (4 letters)
- 4 GA (5 letters)
- 5 HI (5 letters)
- 6 PE (4 letters)
- 7 RA (7 letters)
- 8 RH (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 8 5 hints · 6 letters
A theme word
A small cage bird often taught to mimic a few household phrases.
6 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BU.
BUDGIE
Theme word 2 of 8 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
A small ape featured in many old film comedies about the wild.
5 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CH.
CHIMP
Theme word 3 of 8 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
Short form for a long river reptile with a narrow snout.
4 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CR.
CROC
Theme word 4 of 8 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
Florida swamp reptile, clipped down from its longer Spanish-derived name.
5 letters.
Starts with G.
Starts with GA.
GATOR
Theme word 5 of 8 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
The river-dwelling giant whose name literally means water-horse.
5 letters.
Starts with H.
Starts with HI.
HIPPO
Theme word 6 of 8 5 hints · 4 letters
A theme word
Short form for a flat-faced palace lapdog from imperial China.
4 letters.
Starts with P.
Starts with PE.
PEKE
Theme word 7 of 8 5 hints · 7 letters
A theme word
Desert snake that warns you with its tail before it strikes.
7 letters.
Starts with R.
Starts with RA.
RATTLER
Theme word 8 of 8 5 hints · 5 letters
A theme word
The horned pachyderm whose name means nose-horn in Greek.
5 letters.
Starts with R.
Starts with RH.
RHINO
Spoiler zone
Complete Strands answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
Reveal the spangram
Reveal all theme words
- BUDGIE
- CHIMP
- CROC
- GATOR
- HIPPO
- PEKE
- RATTLER
- RHINO
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Strands on September 5, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Strands answer for September 5, 2026, or browse every Strands puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Strands on September 5, 2026?
NYT Strands on September 5, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 — a tougher-than-average puzzle. There are 8 theme words to find, plus the spangram that ties them together.
Where does the September 5, 2026 Strands spangram start?
The spangram is 7 letters long and stretches right across the board. It begins with the letter "C" — the hints above ease you toward the rest one step at a time, without spelling it out.
What is the theme of NYT Strands on September 5, 2026?
We keep the theme under wraps here so nothing is spoiled — but the ladder above walks you into it, starting with the puzzle's overall vibe. Want it stated outright, with the spangram and all 8 words? Open the answer section on this page.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 8 theme words · 7-letter spangram
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 8 theme words · 7-letter spangram