Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Monday's grid brings an etymology-focused challenge with three clues tracing words back to Hindi, Algonquian, and Norse origins.
Whether you're looking for a mid-length challenge or warming up for the full-size puzzle, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring an 8x10 or 9x11 grid with 15-20 Across and 15-20 Down clues. It takes about 5-15 minutes to solve, making it perfect for a coffee break or commute.
Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime.
New puzzles drop daily. The Midi offers more complexity than the Mini while remaining accessible for solvers who want a quick but substantial challenge.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 10x9
Total Clues: 32 (17 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 17A. Origin of the words "woodchuck" and "moose"
Gimme Clue: 14A. Oft-depicted animal on honey jars
Theme Spotted: "Language of Origins"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Period of quick development
Hint: Think growth spurt, five letters
6A. They "don't lie," in a Shakira hit song
Hint: Body part from Shakira's 2005 hit, four letters
10A. Origin of the words "mongoose" and "cheetah"
Hint: Language from India, five letters
11A. Blue-green hue
Hint: Color between blue and green, four letters
12A. American living abroad, e.g.
Hint: Short for expatriate, five letters
13A. "___ with my little eye ..."
Hint: Children's game phrase, four letters total
14A. Oft-depicted animal on honey jars
Hint: Pollinating insect, three letters
15A. Query
Hint: Simple three-letter verb meaning to question
17A. Origin of the words "woodchuck" and "moose"
Hint: Indigenous North American language family, ten letters
22A. Sch. with a Shreveport campus
Hint: Louisiana university initials, three letters
23A. ___ Cup (in-season hoops tourney)
Hint: Professional basketball league initials, three letters
24A. Filled with wonder
Hint: Four-letter word meaning amazed
27A. Freeze over, as a walkway
Hint: Two-word phrase meaning to become icy, five letters total
29A. Area worked by crunches
Hint: Abdominal muscles, four letters
30A. Origin of the words "walrus" and "reindeer"
Hint: Ancient Scandinavian language, five letters
31A. Drop running down a cheek
Hint: Four-letter word for what you cry
32A. "Oh, for sure!," in slang
Hint: Casual five-letter affirmation
Down Hints
1D. Queen of ___ (biblical visitor of King Solomon)
Hint: Biblical kingdom, five letters
2D. Computer screen dot
Hint: Smallest display unit, five letters
3D. Remove, as from a fixed currency rate
Hint: Opposite of peg, five letters
4D. Dietary guide on a food label: Abbr.
Hint: Nutrition abbreviation, three letters
5D. Tennessee footballers
Hint: NFL team from Nashville, six letters
6D. Japanese poem with a 5-7-5 pattern
Hint: Traditional poetry form, five letters
7D. Eggheads have high ones, for short
Hint: Intelligence quotient abbreviation, three letters
8D. Baby dog
Hint: Three-letter word for young canine
9D. "___ cheese!"
Hint: Three-letter word meaning to speak
16D. Look at the teeny tiny bottom row of an eye chart, say
Hint: Six-letter verb meaning to peer narrowly
18D. Like the Tang dynasty vis-à-vis the Ming dynasty
Hint: Five-letter comparative meaning more ancient
19D. Unreactive, chemically
Hint: Five-letter adjective for stable elements
20D. Treat badly
Hint: Five-letter verb meaning to mistreat
21D. Scruffs of the necks
Hint: Plural five-letter word for back of neck areas
24D. Participate in a play
Hint: Three-letter verb meaning to perform
25D. Sorrowful state
Hint: Three-letter word for grief
26D. Contemporary ___ (what we're living in now)
Hint: Three-letter word for current period
28D. Dove's gentle call
Hint: Three-letter sound pigeons make
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Period of quick development
Answer: SPURT
6A. They "don't lie," in a Shakira hit song
Answer: HIPS
10A. Origin of the words "mongoose" and "cheetah"
Answer: HINDI
11A. Blue-green hue
Answer: AQUA
12A. American living abroad, e.g.
Answer: EXPAT
13A. "___ with my little eye ..."
Answer: I SPY
14A. Oft-depicted animal on honey jars
Answer: BEE
15A. Query
Answer: ASK
17A. Origin of the words "woodchuck" and "moose"
Answer: ALGONQUIAN
22A. Sch. with a Shreveport campus
Answer: LSU
23A. ___ Cup (in-season hoops tourney)
Answer: NBA
24A. Filled with wonder
Answer: AWED
27A. Freeze over, as a walkway
Answer: ICE UP
29A. Area worked by crunches
Answer: CORE
30A. Origin of the words "walrus" and "reindeer"
Answer: NORSE
31A. Drop running down a cheek
Answer: TEAR
32A. "Oh, for sure!," in slang
Answer: TOTES
Down Answers
1D. Queen of ___ (biblical visitor of King Solomon)
Answer: SHEBA
2D. Computer screen dot
Answer: PIXEL
3D. Remove, as from a fixed currency rate
Answer: UNPEG
4D. Dietary guide on a food label: Abbr.
Answer: RDA
5D. Tennessee footballers
Answer: TITANS
6D. Japanese poem with a 5-7-5 pattern
Answer: HAIKU
7D. Eggheads have high ones, for short
Answer: IQS
8D. Baby dog
Answer: PUP
9D. "___ cheese!"
Answer: SAY
16D. Look at the teeny tiny bottom row of an eye chart, say
Answer: SQUINT
18D. Like the Tang dynasty vis-à-vis the Ming dynasty
Answer: OLDER
19D. Unreactive, chemically
Answer: INERT
20D. Treat badly
Answer: ABUSE
21D. Scruffs of the necks
Answer: NAPES
24D. Participate in a play
Answer: ACT
25D. Sorrowful state
Answer: WOE
26D. Contemporary ___ (what we're living in now)
Answer: ERA
28D. Dove's gentle call
Answer: COO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 17A. Origin of the words "woodchuck" and "moose" for ALGONQUIAN. This ten-letter answer requires specific knowledge of indigenous North American languages and their contributions to English vocabulary.
Wordplay Winner: 6A. They "don't lie," in a Shakira hit song for HIPS. The clue cleverly references Shakira's 2005 hit "Hips Don't Lie" while asking for a straightforward body part answer.
Quick Fill: 14A. Oft-depicted animal on honey jars for BEE. This three-letter answer is instantly recognizable from common honey packaging imagery.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for language origin patterns. Three clues (10A, 17A, 30A) follow the same structure, asking for the origin of specific English words. Recognizing this pattern helps solve all three quickly.
Monday puzzles often include straightforward pop culture references like 6A's Shakira clue. When you see a song lyric reference, the answer is usually the most obvious word from that lyric.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The language origin theme provided a consistent challenge across three clues.
Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one. See you at the next grid.
