Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and mixes bilingual vocabulary, summer trivia, and crisp everyday wordplay in a compact grid. Settle in for a lively solve with rewarding crossings.
How The Mini Works
The Mini is a compact version of the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid with five Across and five Down clues. Saturdays expand to a larger grid with more clues. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime. No streak tracking here, but the built-in timer lets you compete against yourself or challenge friends.
New puzzles drop at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday's Mini arrives earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 5x5
Total Clues: 10 (5 Across, 5 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 5A is the trickiest clue because “battery life” initially points toward charge duration rather than a slang term for power.
Gimme Clue: 3D is the clearest gimme, thanks to a familiar nickname for rolling a pair of ones.
Theme Spotted: None today, straight trivia and wordplay.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Spanish question word
Hint: Think of the Spanish interrogative used to ask “what.” Three letters, starts with Q.
4A. National Ice Cream Month and National Hot Dog Month
Hint: Name the midsummer month that celebrates both frozen treats and cookout staples nationally. Four letters, starts with J.
5A. Battery life, informally
Hint: Picture an informal word for the power still available in a battery. Five letters, starts with J.
6A. Poker buy-ins
Hint: These are the required stakes players put into a poker pot before a hand begins. Five letters, starts with A.
7A. Tie up, as a ship
Hint: Use the verb for securing a vessel at a fixed berth or anchorage. Four letters, starts with M.
Down Hints
1D. Only world capital that starts with "Q"
Hint: Look to Ecuador for the world capital distinguished by this unusual initial. Five letters, starts with Q.
2D. Painful sore
Hint: Think of a painful open lesion, often associated with the stomach or skin. Five letters, starts with U.
3D. Snake ___ (dice roll)
Hint: Complete the dice nickname for a roll showing one pip on each die. Four letters, starts with E.
4D. The daughter of Saturn, sister of Jupiter and mother to Mars, in Roman myth
Hint: Name the Roman goddess whose family tree connects Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. Four letters, starts with J.
5D. Traffic snarl
Hint: Picture a roadway backup that leaves vehicles barely moving. Three letters, starts with J.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
---
---
---
---
---
Across Answers
1A. Spanish question word
Answer: QUE
4A. National Ice Cream Month and National Hot Dog Month
Answer: JULY
5A. Battery life, informally
Answer: JUICE
6A. Poker buy-ins
Answer: ANTES
7A. Tie up, as a ship
Answer: MOOR
Down Answers
1D. Only world capital that starts with "Q"
Answer: QUITO
2D. Painful sore
Answer: ULCER
3D. Snake ___ (dice roll)
Answer: EYES
4D. The daughter of Saturn, sister of Jupiter and mother to Mars, in Roman myth
Answer: JUNO
5D. Traffic snarl
Answer: JAM
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 4A, “National Ice Cream Month and National Hot Dog Month,” yielding JULY, defines the puzzle's bright trivia style. Two summery celebrations converge on one clean calendar answer.
Wordplay Winner: 5A wins the wordplay prize with JUICE. “Battery life” disguises a casual synonym for electrical power as a reference to remaining runtime.
Quick Fill: QUITO is the fastest confident fill because its unique-capital clue is so specific. It anchors every Across answer it crosses, QUE, JULY, JUICE, ANTES, and MOOR.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Prioritize uniquely identifying trivia such as QUITO, then use its full vertical run to unlock the Across entries. Save the looser slang clue JUICE until a crossing or two confirms the intended sense.
For compact phrase clues, complete the expression before considering alternatives. EYES from “Snake ___” and JAM from “Traffic snarl” become immediate once each clue is read as a familiar phrase.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, pairing precise trivia with familiar phrases and one satisfying slang trap. JUICE supplied the sharpest spark.
See you at the next grid.
