Today's NYT Strands is live for Wednesday, April 15, 2026 (Puzzle #773). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Gift of the month"
What It Really Means
You're looking for birthstones, gemstones traditionally associated with each month of the year. Each word represents a specific precious or semi-precious stone.
Think About...
- Traditional monthly birthstones like diamond for April or garnet for January
- Gemstones you'd find in jewelry stores or mineral collections
- Colorful stones often used in rings, necklaces, and bracelets
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Across and down
Letter Count: 10 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the fourth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): This word describes the category of gemstones associated with specific months.
Hint 2 (Warmer): It's a compound word combining "birth" with a word for a precious mineral.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is B, last letter is E
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BIRTHSTONE
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A golden-yellow gemstone often associated with November.
Closer: This stone comes in various colors including blue, pink, and the classic imperial yellow.
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 5 letters total
Answer
TOPAZ
Word 2
Vague: A gemstone known for its play-of-color effect.
Closer: This October birthstone displays rainbow-like flashes when light hits it.
Letter Clue: Starts with O, 4 letters total
Answer
OPAL
Word 3
Vague: A blue-green stone often used in Native American jewelry.
Closer: This December birthstone ranges from sky blue to greenish-blue hues.
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 9 letters total
Answer
TURQUOISE
Word 4
Vague: The hardest natural substance and April's birthstone.
Closer: This classic engagement ring stone is known for its brilliance and clarity.
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 7 letters total
Answer
DIAMOND
Word 5
Vague: A deep red stone representing January.
Closer: This dark red gemstone is often found in antique jewelry and signet rings.
Letter Clue: Starts with G, 6 letters total
Answer
GARNET
Word 6
Vague: A lime-green gemstone for August.
Closer: This vibrant green stone is sometimes called the "evening emerald" for its color intensity.
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 7 letters total
Answer
PERIDOT
Full Answers
Spangram: BIRTHSTONE
Theme Words:
- TOPAZ
- OPAL
- TURQUOISE
- DIAMOND
- GARNET
- PERIDOT
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: PERIDOT (Less commonly known than other birthstones)
Our Take: A straightforward gemstone theme that plays well with the "gift of the month" prompt. The spangram BIRTHSTONE neatly ties everything together. While most stones are familiar, PERIDOT might trip up casual solvers who don't know August's birthstone. Solid execution with clear thematic connections.
