NYT Strands Hints & Answer — Bon appétit!, May 16, 2026

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NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “Bon appétit!”, May 16, 2026

Stuck on the May 16, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “Bon appétit!” puzzle (Strands #496 of 496 in our archive). Every reveal is hidden by default — click to open the ones you need.

Spoiler warning. The answers below are for the May 16, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the May 16, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle is “Bon appétit!”. Every theme word and the spangram connects back to this phrase, so think about what related words might fit a 6×8 grid of 48 letters before you start scanning.

Hint 2: Spangram length and first letterReveal

The spangram for the “Bon appétit!” puzzle is 12 letters long and starts with the letter F. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.

Hint 3: How many theme wordsReveal

Besides the spangram, the May 16, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle has 5 theme words. Together with the spangram, they use every letter on the 6×8 grid exactly once.

Answer: Full spangramReveal

The spangram for the May 16, 2026 NYT Strands “Bon appétit!” puzzle is FRENCHBAKERY. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.

Answer: All theme wordsReveal

Here are the 5 theme words for the May 16, 2026 NYT Strands “Bon appétit!” puzzle:

  • CROISSANT
  • ECLAIR
  • MACARON
  • MERINGUE
  • MOUSSE

Plus the spangram FRENCHBAKERY, that’s every word on the grid — all 48 letters accounted for.

Answers for the May 16, 2026 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "Bon appétit!" NYT Strands puzzle

With a theme like "Bon appétit!", this Strands puzzle doesn't hold back. The exclamation sets the tone: expect words that relate to something dramatic, surprising, or immediately recognizable. The general theme words hidden in this grid all support the same exclamatory idea, and discovering the spangram will make the connection unmistakable.

This puzzle has 5 theme words hidden in the grid — a balanced count that gives you enough to work with without overwhelming the board. The 12-letter spangram is notably long, consuming a good chunk of the grid's 48 letters. Its size makes it easier to find if you focus on the grid's edges. Originally published on a Saturday, Puzzle #496 is a more recent addition to the 496+ puzzle archive.

#496
Puzzle Number
5
Theme Words
12
Spangram Letters
Medium
Difficulty

How to approach "Bon appétit!"

  • The energetic theme title suggests vivid, expressive vocabulary. Look for words that match the theme's bold tone and emotional charge.
  • The long 12-letter spangram is your best starting point. Scan the edges of the grid — the spangram must start on one side and end on the opposite side.
  • Work from the corners of the grid — corner letters have fewer possible neighboring connections, which limits where words can go and makes them easier to trace.
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Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive of past Strands puzzles. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company. NYT Strands is a trademark of The New York Times Company. Today's daily puzzle is free at nytimes.com/games/strands.