Spelling Bee gives you seven letters arranged in a honeycomb. You make as many words as you can, and every word must include the center letter.
The rules
- Words must be at least four letters long.
- Every word must contain the center letter.
- Letters can be used more than once in a word.
- Proper nouns, hyphenated words and very obscure words are not accepted.
Scoring and ranks
Four-letter words score 1 point. Longer words score 1 point per letter. A pangram, a word using all seven letters, earns 7 bonus points. Ranks run from Beginner to Genius at about 70 percent of the total, and Queen Bee means finding every word. Each of our daily pages lists the exact point targets for that day.
Tips for reaching Genius
- Hunt for the pangram first. It is worth the most and often unlocks related words.
- Try common endings. Test -ING, -ED, -ER, -LY and -TION whenever the letters allow.
- Work letter by letter. Go through each starting letter in turn, using the hint grid to see how many words you are still missing.
- Remember repeats. Letters can be reused, so words like ALLAY or DIDDLY are fair game.
- Use the two-letter list. It shows how many words start with each pair, which points you to the gaps.
Spelling Bee questions
How does Spelling Bee work?
You make words from seven letters. Every word must use the center letter, be at least four letters long, and letters can be reused.
How is Spelling Bee scored?
Four-letter words are worth 1 point. Longer words are worth one point per letter. A pangram, which uses all seven letters, earns 7 bonus points.
What is a pangram?
A word that uses every one of the seven letters at least once. There is at least one in every puzzle.
What score do you need for Genius?
Genius is about 70 percent of the total points available, and Queen Bee means finding every word. Our ranks table works out the exact numbers for each day.
When does the new Spelling Bee come out?
A new Spelling Bee usually appears at 3 a.m. Eastern time.
Why is a real word not accepted?
The puzzle uses its own curated word list, which leaves out obscure, hyphenated and proper nouns, and some words that are offensive.