You've probably noticed it. That specific feeling when you open the NYT Strands and the theme looks simple, but five minutes later, you’re just staring at a grid of letters wondering if you actually know how to spell. Today is one of those days.
The NYT Strands hints March 29 puzzle—officially #26—is titled "Pardon my French!" and it's a doozy. It sounds like it should be about swearing or maybe just food, right? Not exactly. It's actually a deep dive into the words we use every single day in English that we completely forgot were stolen from France.
Most people are getting stuck because these words don't follow the "rules" of English spelling. There are too many vowels. There are silent letters everywhere. If you're struggling, you are definitely not alone.
The Theme for March 29 Explained
Honestly, the theme "Pardon my French!" is a bit of a trick. Usually, when people say that, they're about to say a "bad" word. Here, the Times is being literal.
Every single word on the board is a French term that we've absorbed into English. These are "loanwords." You know, those words that look fancy on a menu or a resume but are a nightmare to type without autocorrect.
Because they're from another language, the letter patterns are weird. You’ll see clusters like "EAU" or "AIE" that just don't happen in standard Germanic English words. That’s why your brain is probably rejecting the connections your eyes are seeing.
🔗 Read more: Among Us Spider-Man: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With These Mods
Looking for the Spangram?
The spangram today is the key to the whole board. It’s a long one.
It’s LOANWORDS.
It usually splits the board into two sections, which makes finding the smaller words way easier. If you can find the "L" near the middle-left and trace it across, the rest of the puzzle starts to make sense. Without that anchor, you’re basically just looking at an alphabet soup of vowels.
Why Everyone Is Struggling With Today's Word List
The words in the NYT Strands hints March 29 puzzle aren't just "French words"—they are specific terms that we use in very different contexts. This lack of a tight "category" (like "colors" or "animals") is what makes it so hard.
Check out the actual list:
💡 You might also like: Why the Among the Sleep Mom is Still Gaming's Most Uncomfortable Horror Twist
- CHIC: This one is short but easy to miss because of that "CH" sound.
- BERET: A classic. Look for the "T" that you don't actually pronounce.
- BUREAU: This word is a spelling bee champion's nightmare. That "EAU" ending is tucked into a corner.
- LIAISON: Seriously, who knows how to spell this? Too many I's.
- APERITIF: A pre-dinner drink. This is probably the one that will send you to the hint button.
- CHAUFFEUR: The final boss of today's puzzle. If you can find the "AUF" sequence, you're golden.
Most players are reporting that CHAUFFEUR and LIAISON are the two that ruin "Perfect" scores. It's not that we don't know the words; it's that tracing the "strands" through those specific letter combinations feels unnatural.
Strategies for Solving Strands Without Ruining Your Streak
If you're determined to get a "Perfect" today without using the actual hint button, you've got to play the "junk word" game.
Basically, just start submitting any 4-letter word you see. Even if it’s not part of the theme, every three non-theme words you find gives you a hint. But here's the expert tip: don't actually click the hint button yet. Just use those non-theme words to clear out the "noise" in your head.
Look at the corners. In Strands, corner letters are often the start or end of a theme word because they have the fewest possible connections. In today's puzzle, the corners are vital for words like CHIC and BERET.
Also, focus on the "U"s. French loanwords love the letter U. If you see a U, look for an E, an A, or an O nearby. Chances are they're all part of the same "strand."
📖 Related: Appropriate for All Gamers NYT: The Real Story Behind the Most Famous Crossword Clue
Is This the Hardest Strands Yet?
A lot of the community on Reddit and Twitter are calling this one of the most frustrating puzzles since the game launched in beta. The reason is simple: predictability.
In a puzzle about "Elements," you know you're looking for things like Gold or Oxygen. In "Pardon my French!", you could be looking for anything from a "Croissant" to a "Sabotage." The range is just too wide.
But that's also why it's satisfying. When you finally see CHAUFFEUR snake across the bottom of the grid, it feels like a genuine win against the puzzle makers.
To get through the rest of the day, stop overthinking the English rules. Look for the "French" in the letters—those weird vowel pairings are your best friends here. Once you find the LOANWORDS spangram, the board is essentially cut in half, making the remaining 7 words much more manageable.
Start by hunting for the CHIC in the upper area of the grid. It’s the shortest word and usually the best "in" for this specific board. After that, look for BERET nearby. Moving from the shortest words to the longest is often the most reliable way to avoid getting tangled in the letters.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Strands Puzzle
- Find the Spangram First: It’s tempting to grab the easy 4-letter words, but the spangram defines the boundaries of the board.
- Ignore the Theme Clue: Sometimes the clue (like "Pardon my French!") is more of a riddle than a category. Look at the letters first, then re-read the clue.
- Trace Backwards: If you think you see a word like "BUREAU," try tracing it from the "U" back to the "B." It helps reset your brain's pattern recognition.
- Clear the Corners: Always check the four corners of the grid first. They are the most restricted spots on the board.