Searching for connections hint today mashable usually means one thing. You want help, but maybe not the full answer yet.
Fair enough.
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is game #1197, dated Sunday, September 20, 2026. The board has 16 words. Your job is simple on paper: find four groups containing four connected words each.
Some links appear quickly. Others hide well.
Below, you can start small. First come gentle hints. Then stronger clues. The full answers appear later, so you can stop before hitting spoilers.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Today’s Information |
|---|---|
| Puzzle | NYT Connections |
| Date | September 20, 2026 |
| Day | Sunday |
| Game Number | #1197 |
| Total Words | 16 |
| Groups to Find | 4 |
| Words Per Group | 4 |
| Full Answers Included | Yes |
| Spoiler Warning | Yes |
Connections Hint Today Mashable: Today’s 16 Words
Here are all 16 words:
- TWILIGHT
- SNOW
- TORTILLA
- SKATE
- DERBY
- FRIED CHICKEN
- COASTER
- HOVER
- BLADE
- BLU-RAY
- BLUEGRASS
- SAND DOLLAR
- NEAR DARK
- BOURBON
- SURF
- SINNERS
Look at them slowly.
A few words seem related. Some are traps.
That is the fun part.
First Hints for Today’s Connections
Want help without spoilers?
Start here.
Yellow Hint
Think about flat circular objects.
Do not overthink this one.
Green Hint
Think about one American state.
Food, music, and sport matter.
Blue Hint
Movies are the key here.
More specifically, think vampires.
Purple Hint
Each word can join board.
Think about things people ride.
Still stuck? Keep reading.
Stronger Connections Hints for September 20
The next clues reveal more.
Yellow Group
These things are generally round and flat.
Green Group
All four have a clear Kentucky connection.
Blue Group
These are titles of vampire movies.
Purple Group
Put board after each word.
That should clear things up.
If you want to solve it yourself, stop here.
The full solution starts below.
Spoiler Warning: Today’s Connections Answers
Still here?
Okay. Full answers next.
Yellow Answer: Round Flat Things
The four words are:
BLU-RAY — COASTER — SAND DOLLAR — TORTILLA
The link is based on shape.
A Blu-ray uses a flat disc. A coaster is normally flat. A sand dollar has a flat, rounded body. A tortilla is also commonly flat and round.
Simple once you see it.
Green Answer: Associated With Kentucky
The four answers are:
BLUEGRASS — BOURBON — DERBY — FRIED CHICKEN
Kentucky connects all four.
Bluegrass has a strong link with Kentucky. Bourbon is closely tied to the state. Derby points toward the Kentucky Derby. Fried chicken also carries a well-known Kentucky association.
This group can hide nicely.
DERBY may pull your attention elsewhere.
Blue Answer: Vampire Movies
The four words are:
BLADE — NEAR DARK — SINNERS — TWILIGHT
Each is connected through vampire cinema.
Blade is a vampire-focused action film.
Near Dark is also a vampire movie.
Sinners is another film built around vampire elements.
And Twilight is the easiest clue here for many players because vampires sit at the center of its story.
BLADE creates a clever distraction.
It can look sports-related.
Purple Answer: ___ Boards You Ride On
The four answers are:
HOVER — SKATE — SNOW — SURF
Add board after each one:
- Hoverboard
- Skateboard
- Snowboard
- Surfboard
That gives the full group.
Short. Clean. Done.
Today’s Complete Connections Answer Table
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Round Flat Things | Blu-ray, Coaster, Sand Dollar, Tortilla |
| Green | Associated With Kentucky | Bluegrass, Bourbon, Derby, Fried Chicken |
| Blue | Vampire Movies | Blade, Near Dark, Sinners, Twilight |
| Purple | ___ Boards You Ride On | Hover, Skate, Snow, Surf |
Why Today’s Puzzle Can Feel Tricky
Today’s board has several traps.
SKATE and BLADE look friendly together.
Think about ice skating. A skate has a blade, so that false connection feels natural.
Then there is DERBY.
Roller derby can push you toward SKATE. But DERBY actually belongs with the Kentucky group.
COASTER can cause trouble too.
The word may make you think about rides. Yet today, its flat round shape matters instead.
This is how Connections gets you.
A word can fit two ideas.
You need the exact four.
A Simple Way to Solve Connections
Start with the cleanest link.
Do not force four words together.
If three words look perfect and the fourth feels weak, check again. That fourth word may belong elsewhere.
Also watch compound words.
Today’s purple group works exactly that way. HOVER, SKATE, SNOW, and SURF become common words after adding board.
Movie titles can be sneaky too.
BLADE looks like an ordinary object. TWILIGHT looks like a time of day. Together with NEAR DARK and SINNERS, though, the film link becomes clear.
Small details help.
Is Today’s Connections Puzzle #1197?
Yes.
The NYT Connections puzzle for September 20, 2026 is game #1197.
The September 19 puzzle was #1196.
That date check matters because daily hint pages can sometimes get mixed together in search results.
Connections Hint Today Mashable Search Intent Explained
People searching this phrase usually want fast help.
Some only need one clue.
Others want the category names.
And plenty simply want the answers.
That is why spoiler order matters. A useful hint page should give readers a choice. Start light. Reveal more later.
Nobody wants the full solution accidentally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Connections answer today?
For September 20, 2026, the four groups are Round Flat Things, Associated With Kentucky, Vampire Movies, and ___ Boards You Ride On.
What is today’s NYT Connections game number?
Today’s game is Connections #1197.
What are today’s yellow Connections answers?
They are Blu-ray, Coaster, Sand Dollar, and Tortilla.
What are today’s green Connections answers?
They are Bluegrass, Bourbon, Derby, and Fried Chicken.
What are today’s blue Connections answers?
They are Blade, Near Dark, Sinners, and Twilight.
What are today’s purple Connections answers?
They are Hover, Skate, Snow, and Surf.
What connects Hover, Skate, Snow, and Surf?
Each becomes a rideable item after adding board: hoverboard, skateboard, snowboard, and surfboard.
Why does Derby belong with Kentucky?
It points to the Kentucky Derby, which places DERBY inside the Kentucky-related group.
Final Thought
Today’s puzzle looks messy at first.
Then the links click.
The biggest traps are BLADE, DERBY, SKATE, and COASTER because each can pull your thinking toward the wrong group. Start with the clearest four. Then break down what remains.
That usually works.
And if you searched connections hint today mashable because one stubborn group would not move, you now have every verified group and answer for September 20, 2026.
