NYT Spelling Bee Answers for May 6, 2026
Game Summary
| Center Letter | A |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | i, l, r, t, u, v |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 57 words |
| Total Points | 252 points |
| Genius Level | 176 points |
| Bingo? | No |
Table of Contents
As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!
- Spelling Bee Grid
- Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
- Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
- Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
- Today's Complete Solution
- Answer Definitions
If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).
Spelling Bee Grid
The following table shows the standard Spelling Bee summary grid, which lists word lengths across the top and letters down the left-hand side. The cell where the word lengths and letters intersect displays the number of words in today's puzzle with the corresponding first letter and word length.
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| I | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| L | 5 | 1 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
| R | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 8 |
| T | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | - | 15 |
| U | - | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| V | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | 9 | Σ | 17 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 57 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AL×3 AR×3 AT×4 AU×2 AV×2 |
|---|---|
| I | |
| L | LA×5 LI×2 LU×1 |
| R | RA×4 RI×3 RU×1 |
| T | TA×7 TI×2 TR×6 |
| U | UL×1 UV×2 |
| V | VA×1 VI×5 VU×3 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ALI×1 ALL×1 ALT×1 ARI×2 ARR×1 ATI×1 ATR×2 ATT×1 AUR×2 AVA×2 |
|---|---|
| I | |
| L | LAI×1 LAR×3 LAV×1 LIA×1 LIR×1 LUA×1 |
| R | RAI×2 RAT×2 RIA×1 RIT×1 RIV×1 RUR×1 |
| T | TAI×1 TAL×3 TAR×2 TAU×1 TIA×1 TIT×1 TRA×3 TRI×3 |
| U | ULT×1 UVU×2 |
| V | VAU×1 VIA×1 VIL×1 VIR×2 VIT×1 VUL×3 |
Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing)
The table below lists all of the solutions to today's puzzle, but they're concealed. You can click the plus button (+) to reveal additional letters, one-by-one.
Concealed definitions are provided as additional clues. You can toggle concealment of the definitions by clicking on the concealer bar or the text that appears when the definition is visible.
Pangrams are marked with a dagger symbol (†).
| Word | 2L Ref | Definition (click to reveal) |
|---|---|---|
| vi..... † | VI7 | In effect or essence, if not in fact or reality; imitated, simulated. |
| al.. | AL4 | simple past tense and past participle of alight |
| al...... | AL8 | Pertaining to the soil deposited by a stream. |
| al... | AL5 | A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates. |
| ar..... | AR7 | The act of arriving (reaching a certain place). |
| at... | AT5 | At an angle from the vertical or horizontal. |
| at... | AT5 | plural of atrium |
| at.... | AT6 | Of or pertaining to an atrium, especially the atrium of the heart. |
| at... | AT5 | An essential oil extracted from flowers. |
| au.. | AU4 | Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something. |
| au... | AU5 | Of or pertaining to the ear. |
| av... | AV5 | To turn to the advantage of. |
| av.... | AV6 | An incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu. |
| la.. | LA4 | A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground. |
| la.... | LA6 | A lasso. |
| la... | LA5 | An early stage of growth for some insects and amphibians, in which after hatching from their egg, insects are wingless and resemble a caterpillar or grub, and amphibians lack limbs and resemble fish. |
| la.... | LA6 | Of or relating to a larva or larvae. |
| la.. | LA4 | The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides. |
| li.. | LI4 | One who frequently tells lies. |
| li.. | LI4 | The basic unit of currency in Turkey. |
| lu.. | LU4 | An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment. |
| ra.. | RA4 | A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing. |
| ra... | RA5 | A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A swiftly repeated knocking sound. |
| ra..... | RA7 | Any of the large dark-colored deep-sea fish of the Macrouridae family of ray-finned fish. |
| ri.. | RI4 | The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen. |
| ri.... | RI6 | Related to a rite or repeated set of actions. |
| ri... | RI5 | A competitor (person, team, company, etc.) with the same goal as another, or striving to attain the same thing. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary goal of a competitor. |
| ru... | RU5 | Relating to the countryside or to agriculture. |
| ta.. | TA4 | The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus. |
| ta.. | TA4 | plural of talus |
| ta.. | TA4 | Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A traditional Jewish prayer shawl with tassels which covers the chest and upper part of the back. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Sharp to the taste; acid; sour. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight. |
| ti... | TI5 | The papal crown. |
| ti..... | TI7 | Of, relating to, being, derived from, or having a title. |
| tr... | TR5 | To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something). |
| tr... | TR5 | An identifying characteristic, habit or trend. |
| tr..... | TR7 | Arduous or painful exertion; excessive labor, suffering, hardship. |
| tr... | TR5 | An opportunity to test something out; a test. |
| tr.... | TR6 | Insignificant trifles of little importance, especially items of unimportant information. |
| tr..... | TR7 | Ignorable; of little significance or value. |
| ul... | UL5 | Extreme; far beyond the norm; fanatical; uncompromising. |
| uv... | UV5 | Ellipsis of palatine uvula.: the fleshy appendage that hangs from the back of the soft palate, that closes the nasopharynx during swallowing |
| uv.... | UV6 | Of or relating to the uvula. |
| va... | VA5 | An arched masonry structure supporting and forming a ceiling, whether freestanding or forming part of a larger building. |
| vi.. | VI4 | A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small tube-shaped bottle used to store medicine, perfume or other chemicals. |
| vi... | VI5 | A house, often larger and more expensive than average, in the countryside or on the coast, often used as a retreat. |
| vi... | VI5 | Of or relating to a biological virus. |
| vi... | VI5 | Relating to, or characteristic of life. |
| vu... | VU5 | The external female sexual organs, collectively. |
| vu.... | VU6 | Pertaining to the vulva. |
| vu.... | VU6 | Of or pertaining to the vulva. |
Today's Complete Solution
The words that follow are a complete listing of all acceptable words in today's New York Time Spelling Bee puzzle.
Next to the answer word you'll see the two-letter reference (2L Ref) in parentheses. We added that 2L Ref for easier translation of the spoiler-avoidant language you see on the Spelling Bee Forum and Twitter. The 2L Ref signifies a word's two start letters followed by the total number of letters in the word.
- virtual† (VI7)
- alit (AL4)
- alluvial (AL8)
- altar (AL5)
- aria (AR4)
- aril (AR4)
- arrival (AR7)
- atilt (AT5)
- atria (AT5)
- atrial (AT6)
- attar (AT5)
- aura (AU4)
- aural (AU5)
- avail (AV5)
- avatar (AV6)
- lair (LA4)
- lariat (LA6)
- larva (LA5)
- larval (LA6)
- lava (LA4)
- liar (LI4)
- lira (LI4)
- luau (LU4)
- rail (RA4)
- raita (RA5)
- ratatat (RA7)
- rattail (RA7)
- rial (RI4)
- ritual (RI6)
- rival (RI5)
- rural (RU5)
- tail (TA4)
- tali (TA4)
- tall (TA4)
- tallit (TA6)
- tart (TA4)
- tartar (TA6)
- taut (TA4)
- tiara (TI5)
- titular (TI7)
- trail (TR5)
- trait (TR5)
- travail (TR7)
- trial (TR5)
- trivia (TR6)
- trivial (TR7)
- ultra (UL5)
- uvula (UV5)
- uvular (UV6)
- vault (VA5)
- vial (VI4)
- villa (VI5)
- viral (VI5)
- vital (VI5)
- vulva (VU5)
- vulval (VU6)
- vulvar (VU6)
Answer Definitions
- virtual† (adjective): In effect or essence, if not in fact or reality; imitated, simulated.
- alit (verb): simple past tense and past participle of alight
- alluvial (adjective): Pertaining to the soil deposited by a stream.
- altar (noun): A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
- aria (noun): A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.
- aril (noun): A tissue surrounding the seed in certain fruits such as pomegranates.
- arrival (noun): The act of arriving (reaching a certain place).
- atilt (adjective): At an angle from the vertical or horizontal.
- atria (noun): plural of atrium
- atrial (adjective): Of or pertaining to an atrium, especially the atrium of the heart.
- attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
- aura (noun): Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something.
- aural (adjective): Of or pertaining to the ear.
- avail (verb): To turn to the advantage of.
- avatar (noun): An incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu.
- lair (noun): A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground.
- lariat (noun): A lasso.
- larva (noun): An early stage of growth for some insects and amphibians, in which after hatching from their egg, insects are wingless and resemble a caterpillar or grub, and amphibians lack limbs and resemble fish.
- larval (adjective): Of or relating to a larva or larvae.
- lava (noun): The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides.
- liar (noun): One who frequently tells lies.
- lira (noun): The basic unit of currency in Turkey.
- luau (noun): An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment.
- rail (noun): A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.
- raita (noun): A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt.
- ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
- rattail (noun): Any of the large dark-colored deep-sea fish of the Macrouridae family of ray-finned fish.
- rial (noun): The official currencies of Iran, Oman, and Yemen.
- ritual (adjective): Related to a rite or repeated set of actions.
- rival (noun): A competitor (person, team, company, etc.) with the same goal as another, or striving to attain the same thing. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary goal of a competitor.
- rural (adjective): Relating to the countryside or to agriculture.
- tail (noun): The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus.
- tali (noun): plural of talus
- tall (adjective): Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
- tallit (noun): A traditional Jewish prayer shawl with tassels which covers the chest and upper part of the back.
- tart (adjective): Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
- tartar (noun): A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
- taut (adjective): Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight.
- tiara (noun): The papal crown.
- titular (adjective): Of, relating to, being, derived from, or having a title.
- trail (verb): To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).
- trait (noun): An identifying characteristic, habit or trend.
- travail (noun): Arduous or painful exertion; excessive labor, suffering, hardship.
- trial (noun): An opportunity to test something out; a test.
- trivia (noun): Insignificant trifles of little importance, especially items of unimportant information.
- trivial (adjective): Ignorable; of little significance or value.
- ultra (adjective): Extreme; far beyond the norm; fanatical; uncompromising.
- uvula (noun): Ellipsis of palatine uvula.: the fleshy appendage that hangs from the back of the soft palate, that closes the nasopharynx during swallowing
- uvular (adjective): Of or relating to the uvula.
- vault (noun): An arched masonry structure supporting and forming a ceiling, whether freestanding or forming part of a larger building.
- vial (noun): A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small tube-shaped bottle used to store medicine, perfume or other chemicals.
- villa (noun): A house, often larger and more expensive than average, in the countryside or on the coast, often used as a retreat.
- viral (adjective): Of or relating to a biological virus.
- vital (adjective): Relating to, or characteristic of life.
- vulva (noun): The external female sexual organs, collectively.
- vulval (adjective): Pertaining to the vulva.
- vulvar (adjective): Of or pertaining to the vulva.