Play Connections #1219
These are the 16 words in the order NYT shows them. Tap four words you think belong together and press Submit. You get four mistakes, and we'll tell you when you are one word away. Nothing is saved, so you can practise without touching your real streak.
Connections #1219 hints
Yellow is usually the easiest group and purple the trickiest. Start with one colour and see if the rest falls into place.
Hints used: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
Think of how you might answer someone asking how things are going.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Picture putting up with something unpleasant without complaining.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
These are ways to make a longer word or name quicker to say or write.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Chop these long words into two-letter pieces and you'll find spots on a U.S. map.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
One word in the first group is also the very thing the hidden two-letter codes stand for, and the shortening words tempt you to think of those codes too.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- STATUS
- TOLERATE
- WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN
- WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS
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Difficulty: Medium. The first two groups are easy to spot, but the shortening group has some less familiar terms and the last group needs you to split long words into pieces.
Connections #1219 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for October 12, 2026, with why each word fits.
Reveal one group at a time
Each colour opens in three steps: one word from the group, then the group name, then all four words. Stop as soon as you can finish it yourself.
Show one word
CONDITION is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is STATUS.
Show all four words
CONDITION, SHAPE, SITUATION, STATE
Show one word
BEAR is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is TOLERATE.
Show all four words
BEAR, HANDLE, STAND, WEATHER
Show one word
ABBREVIATION is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN.
Show all four words
ABBREVIATION, CONTRACTION, ELISION, NICKNAME
Show one word
ALKYLAMIDE is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS.
Show all four words
ALKYLAMIDE, CALAMARI, MANDARIN, MELAMINE
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CONDITION: Describes the current state of something, like health or repair.
- SHAPE: In good or bad shape means the way things are.
- SITUATION: The set of circumstances someone is in.
- STATE: The particular way something is at a given time.
- BEAR: To bear something is to put up with it.
- HANDLE: To cope with something difficult.
- STAND: Can't stand it means can't tolerate it.
- WEATHER: To weather a storm is to get through it.
- ABBREVIATION: A shortened form of a word or phrase.
- CONTRACTION: Merges words with an apostrophe, like can't.
- ELISION: Leaving out a sound or syllable when speaking.
- NICKNAME: A short, familiar form of a given name.
Purple group explained
- ALKYLAMIDE: AL-KY-LA-MI-DE: Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Delaware.
- CALAMARI: CA-LA-MA-RI: California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Rhode Island.
- MANDARIN: MA-ND-AR-IN: Massachusetts, North Dakota, Arkansas, Indiana.
- MELAMINE: ME-LA-MI-NE: Maine, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska.
What does ALKYLAMIDE mean?
A chemical compound made of an alkyl group (a hydrocarbon chain) attached to an amide. Some are found in plants like echinacea and cause a tingling feeling. In the puzzle it breaks into AL, KY, LA, MI, DE, all state abbreviations.
What does ELISION mean?
The leaving out of a sound or syllable when speaking, as in saying 'gonna' or 'o'er' for 'over'. It shortens words by dropping letters, which is why it fits the shortenings group.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 11 | #1218 | ENDING IN GAMBITS |
| Oct 10 | #1217 | ___BOXING |
| Oct 9 | #1216 | AIR ___ |
| Oct 8 | #1215 | ENDING IN ACTORS NAMED TOM |
| Oct 7 | #1214 | BEST ___ TONY AWARDS |
| Oct 6 | #1213 | ENDING IN TALENTS |
| Oct 5 | #1212 | ENDING IN WAYS TO TEMPORARILY ACQUIRE |
About Connections
Connections is a daily New York Times puzzle where you sort 16 words into four groups of four. Groups are colour-coded from yellow, the most direct, to purple, which usually relies on wordplay. You can make four mistakes. Looking back at past puzzles is one of the best ways to learn the kinds of tricks the editors like to use.
Other puzzles on Oct 12
Connections #1219 questions
What were the Connections answers on October 12, 2026?
STATUS: CONDITION, SHAPE, SITUATION, STATE. TOLERATE: BEAR, HANDLE, STAND, WEATHER. WORD SHORTENINGS, OFTEN: ABBREVIATION, CONTRACTION, ELISION, NICKNAME. WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS: ALKYLAMIDE, CALAMARI, MANDARIN, MELAMINE.
What was the purple group in Connections #1219?
WORDS MADE USING U.S. POSTAL ABBREVIATIONS: ALKYLAMIDE, CALAMARI, MANDARIN, MELAMINE.
What made Connections #1219 tricky?
One word in the first group is also the very thing the hidden two-letter codes stand for, and the shortening words tempt you to think of those codes too.