Screenshot of nytimes.com captured 2026-10-30.
Spelling Bee is The New York Times honeycomb puzzle. You get seven letters arranged in a hive and build as many words as possible. Every word must use the center letter, and finding a pangram (a word that uses all seven letters) is worth bonus points.
| Type | Word games |
|---|---|
| Time per game | 10-30 minutes |
| Publisher | The New York Times |
| Platform | Web browser, no install needed |
| Play on DLE Arena | No, official site only |
| Official site | nytimes.com |
How to play Spelling Bee
- Make words of four or more letters using only the seven letters shown.
- Every word must include the center letter. Letters can be reused.
- Longer words score more; pangrams earn a bonus.
- Climb through the ranks toward Genius as your score grows.
Spelling Bee tips
- Try common endings like -ING, -ED and -TION when the letters allow it.
- Hunt for the pangram first; it is usually a seven- or eight-letter word.
- Proper nouns, hyphenated words and obscure words are not accepted.
Who will like Spelling Bee
Spelling Bee fits in our word games collection. Word games are the heart of the daily puzzle boom. If you play several dailies each morning, Spelling Bee takes about 10-30 minutes, so it pairs well with a quick word game and a knowledge game like Arena Rank.
Games like Spelling Bee
- Wordle Guess the hidden five-letter word in six tries.
- Connections Sort sixteen words into four hidden groups of four.
- Strands Find themed words hidden in a letter grid, plus the spangram.
- The Mini Crossword A tiny daily crossword you can finish in about a minute.
- Letter Boxed Chain words around a square to use all twelve letters.
- ▶ Play here Quordle Solve four Wordles at once in nine guesses.
Frequently asked questions
What is Spelling Bee?
Spelling Bee is The New York Times honeycomb puzzle. You get seven letters arranged in a hive and build as many words as possible. Every word must use the center letter, and finding a pangram (a word that uses all seven letters) is worth bonus points.
Where can I play Spelling Bee?
Spelling Bee is played in the browser on its official site, nytimes.com. It does not allow other sites to embed it, so DLE Arena links there directly.
How long does a game of Spelling Bee take?
Most players finish a round in about 10-30 minutes.
What games are like Spelling Bee?
If you enjoy Spelling Bee, try Wordle, Connections, Strands, or play Arena Rank, our own daily ranking puzzle on DLE Arena.
Spelling Bee is a trademark of its owner. DLE Arena is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Spelling Bee. Details were checked on 2026-10-30; rules can change, so the official site is the final word.