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NYT Spelling Bee

May 12, 2026

C
A
B
M
N
O
T

Puzzle Statistics

38
Total Words
201
Total Points
2
Pangrams
7
Letters

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About This Puzzle

Welcome to the complete solution guide for the New York Times Spelling Bee puzzle from May 12, 2026! This puzzle challenges you to find 38 words using the letters CABMNOT, with C as the center letter that must appear in every word.

The Spelling Bee is a daily word puzzle where players create words using a set of 7 unique letters arranged in a honeycomb pattern. The center letter must be included in every word, and each word must be at least 4 letters long. This puzzle contains 2 pangrams - special words that use all 7 letters.

Looking for today's answers? Our complete solution reveals all words organized by length, with pangrams highlighted. The total possible score for this puzzle is 201 points.

🔤 Tips & Strategies for Solving Spelling Bee

1. Start with the Center Letter

Remember that the center letter (C) must appear in every word. Start by brainstorming words that prominently feature this letter.

2. Look for Common Endings

Try adding common suffixes like -ING, -ED, -ER, -LY to your base words. Many puzzles include multiple forms of the same root word.

3. Hunt for Pangrams

Pangrams use all 7 letters and give bonus points. They're often longer, compound words, or less common terms. Don't give up on finding all 2 pangrams!

4. Think of Word Families

If you find one word, think of related words. For example, if you find "BOOK", look for "BOOKS", "BOOKED", "BOOKING".

5. Use Letter Frequency

Some letters appear more frequently than others. Build around common letters and don't forget about less obvious combinations.

All 38 Answers (201 Points)

4-Letter Words (10)

BANC
CAMO
CANT
COAT
COCA
COMA
COMB
COOT
TACO
TACT

5-Letter Words (7)

BACON
CACAO
CANNA
CANON
COCOA
COMBO
COMMA

6-Letter Words (13)

BOBCAT
CABANA
CANCAN
CANNON
CANNOT
CANTON
COCOON
COMBAT
COMMON
COTTON
NONCOM
OCTANT
TOMCAT

7-Letter Words (5)

CANTATA
CONCOCT
CONTACT
TOBACCO
TOCCATA

8-Letter Words (1)

CATACOMB

9-Letter Words (1)

COMBATANT 🌟

12-Letter Words (1)

NONCOMBATANT 🌟