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NYT Spelling Bee

May 20, 2026

A
B
C
D
K
O
R

Puzzle Statistics

51
Total Words
229
Total Points
3
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 20, 2026! This puzzle challenges you to find 51 words using the letters ABCDKOR, with A 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 3 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 229 points.

🔤 Tips & Strategies for Solving Spelling Bee

1. Start with the Center Letter

Remember that the center letter (A) 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 3 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 51 Answers (229 Points)

4-Letter Words (21)

ARCO
BABA
BACK
BARB
BARD
BARK
BOAR
BOBA
BRAD
CARB
CARD
COCA
CODA
CRAB
DARK
DRAB
OKRA
ORCA
RACK
ROAD
ROAR

5-Letter Words (15)

ABACK
ADOBO
ARBOR
ARDOR
BABKA
BOARD
BROAD
CACAO
CAROB
COBRA
COCOA
CRACK
CROAK
KABOB
RADAR

6-Letter Words (6)

ABOARD
ABROAD
ACCORD
BAOBAB
DOODAD
DORADO

7-Letter Words (2)

BARBACK
BARRACK

8-Letter Words (3)

BACKDOOR 🌟
BARBACOA
BOOKRACK

9-Letter Words (3)

BACKBOARD 🌟
CARDBOARD
CORKBOARD 🌟

11-Letter Words (1)

ABRACADABRA