If you’ve opened your phone today and stared blankly at a grid of 16 words wondering how "Genus" and "Goo" could possibly be related, you aren’t alone. Honestly, today's NYT Connections hints June 9 reveal a puzzle that is a masterclass in the "red herring." Waking up to this game is usually a nice little dopamine hit with my coffee, but today felt like the editors were actively trying to ruin my morning.
Let's get into it. You’ve only got four mistakes before the game shuts you out and reveals the answers in that "better luck next time" way that feels surprisingly personal. If you’re down to your last life, don't just click "Save" and hope for the best.
The Themes for June 9 Explained
Sometimes the categories are simple synonyms. Other times, they require you to basically be a walking encyclopedia of New York Times trivia. Today is a mix of both.
If you’re looking for a nudge without the full spoilers yet, think about what you do when you’re working at a desk. Then, shift your brain toward something a bit more... "underworld."
The Yellow Category: Modern Desktop Basics
The yellow group is usually the most straightforward, and today follows that rule. Think about the actions you take every single day on a computer. If you were looking at a "File" menu in a word processor, what would you see?
- Keywords: PASTE, PRINT, QUIT, SAVE.
- The Connection: These are all Keyboard Shortcut Commands.
The Green Category: Planning Ahead
This one is a bit more flexible with its definitions. If you’re trying to get a table at that new bistro or making sure you have a seat on a flight, you use these verbs.
- Keywords: BOOK, ORDER, REQUEST, RESERVE.
- The Connection: These all mean to Secure in Advance.
The Blue Category: The "Mob" Connection
Blue is where things start getting tricky. You might have seen "Family" and "Genus" and immediately thought of biology or taxonomy. That is a trap. Don't fall for it. Instead, think of The Sopranos or The Godfather.
- Keywords: CREW, FAMILY, RING, SYNDICATE.
- The Connection: This group is all about Crime Organizations.
Why the Purple Category is Infuriating Today
The purple category is always the "hardest," but today’s logic is particularly niche. If you’re a fan of the other big NYT word game, Spelling Bee, you might have a leg up. If not? You’re probably staring at "Mazing" like it’s a typo.
It isn't a typo. It’s wordplay.
Basically, each of these words is a rank you can achieve in the Spelling Bee game, but they’ve had one single letter removed.
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- Genus is (Genius) without the "i".
- Goo is (Good) without the "d".
- Mazing is (Amazing) without the "a".
- Slid is (Solid) without the "o".
It’s clever, sure. But "Goo" to "Good" is a stretch that left many players (including me) pretty salty.
Strategic Advice for June 9
Whatever you do, don't rush. The biggest mistake people make in NYT Connections hints June 9 is jumping on the "Biology" connection. Seeing Family, Order, and Genus all in one grid is a classic misdirection. The game wants you to pick those. But "Order" belongs with "Book," and "Family" belongs with the crime syndicate.
If you find yourself stuck with five words that seem to fit one category, stop. Take a breath. Look for the word that is the "weakest" link and see if it fits somewhere else. Usually, that odd-one-out is the key to breaking the whole puzzle wide open.
Practical Next Steps for Your Game
- Identify the Shortcuts first: Get PASTE, PRINT, QUIT, and SAVE out of the way. It clears the board and makes the harder groups easier to see.
- Break the Taxonomy Trap: Remind yourself that "Order" is a verb here (to order something) rather than a biological rank.
- Look for the missing letters: If you see a word that looks "almost" right—like "Mazing"—try adding a letter to the beginning or end to see if a hidden theme emerges.
Once you’ve cleared the yellow and green groups, the rest of the board becomes a lot less intimidating. Even if you don't "get" the purple connection, you can often solve it by default once the other twelve words are gone.
Now, go back to that grid and look for the hidden verbs. You've got this.