Connections Answers

Friday, May 1, 2026

1

MAKE GLOSSY

These words are all verbs. They describe actions you do to a surface to make it smooth, bright, and reflective, like glass or a mirror. This makes it 'glossy'.
Individual words:
BUFF: To rub a surface hard, usually with a soft cloth or a special tool, to make it smooth and shiny. For example, you can buff fingernails or car paint.
POLISH: To rub a surface, often with a special cream or liquid, to make it smooth, clean, and shiny. You can polish shoes, furniture, or metal objects.
SHINE: To make something bright and reflective, usually by cleaning or rubbing it. For example, you shine your shoes to make them look new and bright.
WAX: To put a thin layer of wax on a surface and then rub it. This protects the surface and makes it very smooth and glossy. People often wax cars or floors.
2

TRANSLUCENT GOLDEN THINGS

All these words describe things that are usually golden or yellow in color, and you can see through them, meaning they are translucent.
Individual words:
ALE: A type of beer, an alcoholic drink made from grain. It often has a golden-brown color and you can see through it a little.
AMBER: A hard, yellow-orange substance that comes from ancient tree sap. It is often used for jewelry and looks somewhat clear.
CITRINE: A type of gemstone, like a jewel. It is clear and yellow, often looking like the bright color of a lemon or gold.
HONEY: A sweet, thick liquid made by bees. It is usually golden or yellowish and you can see through it a little.
3

FEATURES OF A BIRD'S HEAD

These words are all parts you might find on a bird's head.
Individual words:
BEAK: A bird's hard, pointy mouth, used for eating and picking things up. It's like a nose and mouth combined.
COMB: The red, fleshy growth on top of a chicken's head. It's not a hair comb, but part of the bird itself.
CREST: A fancy group of feathers on a bird's head, like a small crown or a decorative hairstyle. Often colorful.
WATTLE: A fleshy, often red or purple, piece of skin that hangs from a bird's chin or neck, common on turkeys.
4

NUMBERS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED

These words become numbers if you change their first letter. For example, 'HIVE' becomes 'FIVE'.
Individual words:
HIVE: A 'hive' is the home where bees live and make honey. If you change the 'H' to an 'F', it becomes the number 'FIVE'.
MIX: To 'mix' means to combine different things together, like ingredients for a cake. If you change the 'M' to an 'S', it becomes the number 'SIX'.
POUR: To 'pour' means to make a liquid flow out of a container, like pouring water from a bottle. If you change the 'P' to an 'F', it becomes the number 'FOUR'.
WIGHT: 'Wight' is an old word for a person or creature, often used in fantasy stories (like 'ghostly wights'). If you change the 'W' to an 'E', it becomes the number 'EIGHT'.
NYT Connections Answers for Friday, May 1, 2026 | ESL Explanations | NYT Games ESL