![What Google Messages features are rolling out [May 2025]](https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/google-messages-name-cover.png?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, May 5 (game #428)
Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, May 4 (game #427).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #428) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… On the side
NYT Strands today (game #428) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- KEYS
- STIR
- MEEK
- FORTS
- HOST
- RICE
NYT Strands today (game #428) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 11 letters
NYT Strands today (game #428) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First side: right, 4th row
Last side: right, 1st row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #428) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #428, are…
- STEAK
- HOME
- CURLY
- WAFFLE
- CRINKLE
- SHOESTRING
- SPANGRAM: FRENCH FRIES
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
FRENCH FRIES or Freedom Fries as some like to call them, or Chips as we say in the UK, are the single reason why the potato is by far the best vegetable. That you can get so much flavor, crispy wonder and variety from of a bland starchy tuber is a miracle.
Today’s search, has of course made me hungry, although I didn’t exactly work up an appetite doing it (no thermometer headaches today), and got me wondering what my favourite type of "fry" is.
If push came to shove I think I’d have to go for a fat chip shop chip (aka STEAK fries) drowning in salt and vinegar with some curry sauce “on the side”.
Right, that’s enough of this puzzling, I’m off to the chippy!
How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, May 4, game #427)
- PLANET
- EMPIRE
- SPACE
- LONG
- TIME
- GALAXY
- REBEL
- SPANGRAM: OPENING CRAWL
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
