You’re staring at 28-Across. The clue is short: "Et ___ (and others)." Your brain immediately goes to the 1982 Spielberg movie, but that’s only two letters. This is a four-letter gap. You’ve probably seen this exact clue dozens of times if you do the New York Times crossword with any regularity, yet for some reason, the Latin part of your brain just hits a wall every single time.
It's "crosswordese." That’s what the pros call these words that show up constantly because their vowel-heavy structure helps constructors escape a corner. But "et and others" is special. It’s a linguistic chameleon that changes based on how many boxes the grid gives you.
The NYT Crossword Answer for Et and Others
If you’re just here for the quick fix because your streak is on the line, the answer is almost always ALIA or ALII.
Wait, why are there two? Latin is picky. Honestly, it depends on whether the "others" the clue is referring to are people or things. In the world of the NYT crossword, Will Shortz and his team of editors usually use ALIA for "other things" (et alia) and ALII for "other people" (et alii). If you see a four-letter space and the clue is "Et ___ (and others)," try ALIA first. If the vertical clue (down) doesn't work, swap that 'A' for an 'I'.
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Sometimes, they get fancy. If you have five boxes, they might be looking for ALIIS. If you have four boxes and the clue is "And others, for short," the answer is ETAL. It’s basically the Swiss Army knife of crossword filler.
Why "Et and Others NYT" Keeps Showing Up
Constructors love these words. Think about it. ALIA is 75% vowels. When you’re trying to build a grid and you’ve got a "G" from a vertical word like "DOGS" and you need to bridge it to an "A" from "PIZZA," these Latin fragments are literal lifesavers.
But for the solver, it can be a bit of a headache. You’ve got to know your Latin suffixes. Let’s break down the common variations you’ll see in the New York Times:
- ALIA: Used for neuter plural (things).
- ALII: Used for masculine plural (people).
- ALIAE: Used for feminine plural (less common, but keep it in your back pocket).
- ETAL: The abbreviated form we use in academic papers when we’re too lazy to list six authors.
Basically, if the clue mentions "Latin" or "others," your mind should immediately jump to the "AL" family.
Cracking the Crossword Code
Understanding the "et and others NYT" clue is sort of like a rite of passage. Once you stop seeing it as a trick and start seeing it as a predictable pattern, you’ll shave minutes off your solve time. Crosswords aren't just about knowing trivia; they’re about learning the specific vocabulary of the puzzle itself.
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You've probably noticed other Latin regulars. ERGO (therefore), AMAT (he/she/it loves), and ESSE (to be) are the best friends of every puzzle creator. They’re the mortar between the bricks of the more "fun" clues like "1990s grunge band" or "Common deli order."
Tips for Dealing with Latin Clues
Don't panic when you see "Et ___." Seriously.
- Check the length. Four letters? It’s ALIA or ALII.
- Look at the crosses. The third or fourth letter will usually give it away. If a "Down" word requires an "I" at the end, go with ALII.
- Context clues. If the clue says "and others (abbr.)", it’s ETAL. If it says "And others: Lat.", it's probably ALIA.
Honestly, the New York Times crossword is a game of memory. The more you do it, the more these "tough" Latin clues become the ones you fill in without even thinking. You’ll start to see ALII and feel a sense of relief because it means you’ve finally cracked that stubborn corner of the grid.
Moving Beyond the Latin
Once you’ve mastered the "et and others" situation, start looking for other common Latin abbreviations that pop up. You’ll see ID EST (i.e., "that is") or EG (exempli gratia, "for example") tucked away in three-letter slots. Learning these isn't just about being a "word nerd"—it's about building a toolkit so you can focus on the clever, pun-filled themes that make the NYT puzzle the gold standard.
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If you’re stuck on today’s puzzle, take a second to look at the surrounding words. Most of the time, the "A" or "I" at the end of ALIA/ALII is the key to unlocking a much longer, more satisfying word nearby.
Next Steps for Your Crossword Game:
Keep a running list of "crosswordese" in a notes app. Whenever you encounter a word like ALIA, ETUI, or OREO (the most clued cookie in history), jot it down. You'll find that the "et and others NYT" clue is just one of about fifty recurring answers that form the backbone of almost every puzzle you'll solve this year.