Yellow group
Most direct
First nudge
Think about small words you use to point at something, near or far.
Stronger nudge
Each word singles out a person or thing, close by or far away, singular or plural.
Group name
Demonstratives
Connections hint #1199: September 22, 2026
Step-by-step hints and answers for Connections #1199, from Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Plain is the word for this board at first glance, and that plainness is what makes it slippery. A handful of tiles seem to click together the moment you see them side by side, and acting on that hunch costs a mistake almost at once. Give every tile its own job before you pair anything. The more concrete sets come without much trouble, while the last one needs a sideways look, and spotting it is a real pleasure.
- THIS
- THAT
- THE
- OTHER
- CAFE
- PATRON
- AGREE
- ACCENT
- TOUCH
- THOSE
- ROSE
- NEUTRAL
- DETAIL
- DISAGREE
- THESE
- FLOURISH
Hints for Connections #1199
Open one step at a time. Step three names the group, so stop earlier if you want more of a challenge. New to the game? Read how to play Connections first, or see what the four colors mean.
Green group
Fairly direct
First nudge
Think about small decorative extras added to make a plain item look special.
Stronger nudge
Each word can mean an extra decorative element, like a fancy curl closing a signature or a little gold trim on a dress.
Group name
Embellishment
Blue group
Takes some thought
First nudge
Think about boxes you tick on a customer feedback form.
Stronger nudge
Each is a common answer choice on a questionnaire, from two opposite opinions to a middle ground and a write-in option.
Group name
Options on a multiple choice survey
Purple group
Trickiest
First nudge
Think about what you might order to drink in Paris, Mexico or Provence.
Stronger nudge
Each tile names a drink, or a well-known drink brand, which normally carries a small mark above one of its letters.
Group name
Beverages with acute accents removed
Show the trap
Say the board out loud and a stock phrase jumps out: THIS, THAT, THE and OTHER, as in this, that and the other. It feels like a gift. It is a setup, and clicking those four costs a mistake right away, because they split across three different groups. Treat each of the four as a separate word with its own job.
More ways to dodge red herrings: our Connections tips.
Word meanings
Some meanings point toward a group, so they stay hidden until you open them.
Show meanings for 5 tricky words
- THE
- In French, the word for tea, written with an accent over the e. In English, of course, it is the most common word of all.
- PATRON
- A regular customer, or a supporter of the arts. Written with an accent, it is also the name of a well-known brand of tequila from Mexico.
- FLOURISH
- To grow and thrive, as a garden or a business does. As a noun, a bold, decorative stroke or gesture, such as a curl added to a signature.
- ROSE
- A flower, or a pinkish color. Written with an accent, it is a pink wine made from red grapes that spend only a short time in contact with their skins.
- NEUTRAL
- Not taking sides. On a survey it is the middle choice between agreeing and disagreeing, and in a car it is the gear in which the engine does not drive the wheels.
Answers for Connections #1199
This section shows all four groups. Only open it if you're finished or ready to give up.
Show all four groups
-
Demonstratives
THAT, THESE, THIS, THOSE
Demonstratives, the words that point to something: THAT, THESE, THIS and THOSE.
-
Embellishment
ACCENT, DETAIL, FLOURISH, TOUCH
Words for an embellishment: ACCENT, DETAIL, FLOURISH and TOUCH, as in a finishing touch or a decorative flourish.
-
Options on a multiple choice survey
AGREE, DISAGREE, NEUTRAL, OTHER
Answer options on a multiple choice survey: AGREE, DISAGREE, NEUTRAL and OTHER.
-
Beverages with acute accents removed
CAFE, PATRON, ROSE, THE
Drinks whose names normally carry an acute accent, written here without it: CAFE (coffee), PATRON (the tequila brand), ROSE (the pink wine) and THE (French for tea).
The solve at a glance
The stock phrase has to come apart before anything else works. OTHER belongs on a survey with AGREE, DISAGREE and NEUTRAL, while THIS and THAT join THESE and THOSE as pointing words. ACCENT, DETAIL, FLOURISH and TOUCH make up the decorations. THE then joins CAFE, PATRON and ROSE: restore the missing accent on each and you get four drinks, including the French word for tea.
Want to get better at spotting groups? Start with our Connections tips.
Answers checked against the official answers by Alan. This puzzle appeared on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
More Connections puzzles
Every puzzle keeps its own page with the same nudges, meanings and answers, so you can go back to any day.
Looking for a different day? Use the links below, or head to today's Connections hint. Every puzzle from September 2026 is listed on the September 2026 archive page.