This is the NYT Connections puzzle for Friday, July 12, 2024, game #397—not a different puzzle that happens to fall on July 12 in another year. Start with the 16-word grid, then use the hints in order before opening the solutions.
Today’s Connections grid for July 12, 2024
Arrange these 16 words into four groups of four:
ODD, LIBRARY, CHOCOLATE, SOAP, PIGEON, MOTHER, RED, LAB, BLACK, GREY, GYM, PEACE, GOLDEN, EVEN, SILLY, AUDITORIUM
Hints, from subtle to direct
- Yellow: Not the classroom, but the…
- Green: Spin the wheel.
- Blue: White bird link.
- Purple: ___ water bird.
How the four connections work
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four. The groups are color-coded; yellow is usually the most straightforward and purple often relies on wordplay. Four incorrect guesses end the game, according to Forbes’ description of the format (Forbes).
Spoilers: July 12 Connections answers
Spoiler warning: The complete group names and answers are below.
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| Color | Connection | Words | How it links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | School facilities | AUDITORIUM, GYM, LAB, LIBRARY | Places found at a school besides the classroom. |
| Green | Roulette bets | BLACK, EVEN, ODD, RED | These are roulette wagers. |
| Blue | Associated with “dove” | CHOCOLATE, PEACE, PIGEON, SOAP | Each word has an association with “dove.” |
| Purple | ___ GOOSE | GOLDEN, GREY, MOTHER, SILLY | Each word completes a phrase ending in “goose.” |
What makes the purple group different
The purple set is a phrase-completion puzzle, not a grouping of literal goose varieties: GOLDEN GOOSE, GREY GOOSE, MOTHER GOOSE and SILLY GOOSE. The other three categories are more direct—school locations, roulette bets and words linked to “dove.”
TechRadar’s author Marc McLaren rated this puzzle “Moderate,” a personal assessment rather than an objective difficulty score. McLaren also wrote, “I should definitely have got the green ROULETTE BETS group, but instead got hung up on colors.” (TechRadar)
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