SbSolver
Today

Spelling Bee Answers

May 16, 2026

E
H
N
O
P
T
A

64

Words

3

Pangrams

286

Max Points

Yes

Perfect Pangram

Genius threshold: 201 points (70% of 286)
Center: A | Letters: AEHNOPT

Spoilers ahead! Click to reveal the complete word list.

Today's Spelling Bee Puzzle Breakdown

The New York Times Spelling Bee for May 16, 2026 uses A as the mandatory center letter with outer letters E, H, N, O, P, T. Players need to find as many words as possible that include the center letter and are at least four letters long. Each letter can be used multiple times within a word.

Today's puzzle contains 64 valid words and 3 pangrams. A pangram is a word that uses all seven available letters at least once. This puzzle features a perfect pangram — a word that uses each letter exactly once, making it exactly 7 letters long. The perfect pangrams are <strong>PHAETON, PHONATE</strong>.

The maximum possible score for this puzzle is 286 points. Four-letter words earn 1 point each, while longer words earn points equal to their letter count. Pangrams receive a bonus 7 points on top of their letter-count score. To reach Genius level, you need 201 points (70% of the total).

Word lengths in today's Bee range from 4 to 9 letters. The most common word length is 4-letter words with 26 entries. The center letter A appears in every single word, while the outer letters each appear in a varying number of answers.

SbSolver provides the complete word list, pangram details, and scoring breakdown for every daily Spelling Bee puzzle. Whether you're stuck on a few words or want to verify your progress, our tool gives you instant access to today's full solution set without any subscription or paywall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the NYT Spelling Bee answers for May 16, 2026?

The Spelling Bee for May 16, 2026 has 64 words and 3 pangrams. The center letter is A and the available letters are A, E, H, N, O, P, T. Click "Show All Answers" above to see the complete word list.

What score do I need for Genius today?

You need 201 points out of 286 total to reach Genius. That's 70% of the maximum score. Finding the pangrams helps a lot since each one is worth at least 14 points (7-letter word = 7 points + 7 bonus).

Does today's puzzle have a perfect pangram?

Yes! Today's puzzle has a perfect pangram: <strong>PHAETON, PHONATE</strong>. A perfect pangram uses all seven letters exactly once, making it exactly 7 letters long.

How does the NYT Spelling Bee scoring work?

Four-letter words are worth 1 point each. Words with five or more letters earn points equal to their length. Pangrams (words using all seven letters) get a 7-point bonus on top of their base score. The progress levels are: Beginner (0%), Starting (2%), Solid (5%), Nice (8%), Good (15%), Great (25%), Amazing (40%), Genius (70%), and Queen Bee (100%).