Waking up and seeing those sixteen little squares staring back at you can feel like a personal challenge from Wyna Liu herself. It’s January 27. You’ve got your coffee. You’ve got a few minutes before the day gets chaotic. But then you look at the grid and realize nothing makes sense.
It happens to the best of us. Honestly, some days the NYT Connections puzzle feels like a gentle breeze, and other days it feels like a linguistic brick wall. Today leans toward the latter. If you are hunting for Connections hints Jan 27 to keep that win streak alive, you are in the right place. We are going to break down the logic, look at the crossovers that are designed to trip you up, and get you to that "Puzzle Solved" screen without burning all your mistakes.
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Why today’s grid is a bit of a nightmare
The beauty—and the absolute frustration—of Connections lies in the red herrings. The New York Times games team are masters of the "crossover." You see a word and immediately think it belongs to Group A, but it’s actually the cornerstone of Group D. Today’s puzzle uses a lot of words that function as different parts of speech. A word might look like a noun, but in the context of the category, it’s a very specific verb.
If you are staring at the screen and seeing words that relate to, say, "types of movement" or "things you find in a kitchen," be careful. It’s rarely that straightforward. The Jan 27 puzzle relies heavily on shared associations that aren't immediately obvious until you say them out loud.
Sometimes the best strategy is to look for the most "boring" words first. The ones that don't seem to have a personality. Usually, those are the ones that anchor the Yellow or Green categories. The flashy, weird words? Those are almost always saved for the Purple group, which often involves wordplay or "words that follow X" logic.
Breaking down the Jan 27 themes
Let's get into the nitty-gritty. Without giving it all away just yet, think about repetition. Think about things that happen in a sequence. There is a specific group today that deals with the idea of "going again" or "doing over."
Another thread running through this grid involves physicality. Not just moving, but how something is shaped or how it occupies space. If you see words that describe a specific form or a way an object sits, start grouping those.
Then there’s the "hidden word" category. This is the one that usually makes people groan when the answer is revealed. You have to look inside the words. Are they parts of a larger whole? Do they all share a common prefix that has been stripped away? For Connections hints Jan 27, pay close attention to words that could be synonyms for parts of a machine or a vehicle.
Watch out for the traps
The NYT loves to throw in a word that fits a category from three days ago. Or worse, a word that fits a category you think is there but actually isn't. Today, there’s a sneaky connection involving "sounds." You might see two or three words that seem like they make a specific noise. Don't fall for it unless you can find the fourth. If you only have three, walk away. Look for something else.
Understanding the color-coded difficulty
New players often forget that the colors actually mean something.
- Yellow is the straightforward one. It’s usually direct synonyms.
- Green is a bit more abstract but still based on clear definitions.
- Blue starts getting into specific knowledge or slightly more "out there" associations.
- Purple is the wildcard. It’s almost always about the structure of the word rather than the meaning of the word.
For the Jan 27 puzzle, the Purple category is particularly clever. It involves a "fill in the blank" style logic. If you’re stuck, try adding a word like "Back" or "Side" or "Head" to the front of the words you have left.
Strategy for when you are down to one mistake
We’ve all been there. One life left. The "One Away!" message has popped up twice, and your heart rate is actually rising over a word game.
When you're at this point, stop clicking. Seriously. Take a screenshot. Close the app. Go do something else for ten minutes. When you come back, your brain will stop trying to force the same incorrect patterns.
Look at the words that don't fit anything. Paradoxically, the words you are most confused by are usually the easiest to group once you find the "hook." If you have four words that seem completely unrelated to anything else in the grid, they are likely your Purple or Blue group. Group them and submit. Often, solving the "hardest" group by elimination is the only way to clear the board.
The logic behind today's specific groups
Let's talk about the actual clusters for Connections hints Jan 27.
One group is essentially "Ways to show you agree." It’s simple, right? But the words chosen aren't just "Yes" or "Okay." They are more formal or perhaps even physical actions. Think about what you do in a meeting when someone makes a good point.
Another group is "Parts of a specific garment." This is a classic NYT move. They take an object you use every day and break it down into its technical components. If you see words that describe pieces of a shoe or a jacket, you’re on the right track.
There is also a category regarding "Quantity." But it isn't just numbers. It’s about how much of something you have, or perhaps a lack thereof. Words like "trace" or "hint" or "smidge" often show up in these types of groupings.
How to get better at Connections long-term
If you find yourself searching for hints every morning, you might need to shift how you "read" the grid. Most people read it like a book—left to right, top to bottom. Instead, try scanning it diagonally. It breaks the visual associations the designers tried to create by placing similar-looking words next to each other.
Also, say the words out loud. Sometimes a word has two pronunciations (a heteronym). "Lead" can be a metal or it can mean to guide. "Wind" can be a breeze or what you do to a watch. The NYT loves using these to hide a word in plain sight. If a word doesn't fit the "noun" category you've built, try using it as a verb.
Step-by-step guidance for January 27
If you just want the push in the right direction without the full spoiler, here is how to approach the Jan 27 board:
- Identify the "agreement" words. Look for things you do to show you're on board with an idea.
- Look for the "clothing" components. There are four words that describe parts of a very specific item of clothing you probably have in your closet right now.
- Check for "increments." Find the words that describe a tiny, almost insignificant amount of something.
- The leftovers. Whatever is left is your tricky Purple category. Today, those words all share a common "suffix" or "prefix" relationship with a type of vessel.
Actionable steps for your next game
To stop the "One Away" cycle, you've got to be methodical. Before you hit submit on any group, ask yourself: "Does any other word on this board also fit this category?" If the answer is yes, your category is too broad, or you've fallen for a red herring.
Check for synonyms across the entire 16-word spread. If you see five words that mean "fast," you know one of them belongs somewhere else. That "fifth wheel" is the key to solving the puzzle.
Lastly, keep a mental (or physical) note of recurring themes. The NYT editors have "favorites." They love palindromes, they love homophones, and they love words that can follow a color (like "Blue moon," "Blue jay," etc.). Recognizing these patterns early will save you a lot of frustration in future puzzles.
Now, go back to that grid. Look at the words again with fresh eyes. You’ve probably already seen the connection; you just haven’t trusted it yet. Clear the Yellow group first to build confidence, then work your way up. You’ve got this.