For puzzle enthusiasts and casual gamers alike, the New York Times Connections puzzle has become a daily ritual, offering a unique blend of wordplay, logic, and a dash of frustration. On June 19, 2026, the NYT Connections puzzle #1104 challenged players to group sixteen seemingly unrelated words into four distinct categories—a task that, as many learned, was trickier than it first appeared.
According to multiple outlets, including Lifehacker and Fortnite Insider, Connections #1104 provided a set of sixteen words: TIME MACHINE, TEETOTAL, DIM SUM, SOY SAUCE, SPINDERELLA, FORTUNE COOKIE, VEGEMITE, VISCOUNT, CHOPSTICKS, MISO PASTE, PEOPLE PERSON, HEART AND SOUL, COINCIDENTALLY, THE ENTERTAINER, PARMESAN, and FÜR ELISE. The goal? Group them into four sets of four words each, with every set sharing a hidden theme.
Players are allowed up to four mistakes before the game ends and the answers are revealed—adding just enough pressure to keep things interesting. The puzzle’s color-coded system, ranging from yellow (the most straightforward) to purple (the most challenging), gives players a sense of which groups might be easier to spot and which will require a bit more lateral thinking.
So, how did seasoned solvers and first-timers fare with this particular puzzle? Let’s break down the groups and themes, as reported by Lifehacker, Fortnite Insider, and other puzzle aficionados.
The Yellow Group: Umami-Rich Foods
The yellow category, typically the easiest to identify, was themed around foods rich in umami—the so-called "fifth taste" that adds a savory depth to many dishes. The four words in this group were MISO PASTE, PARMESAN, SOY SAUCE, and VEGEMITE. According to Fortnite Insider, this group was meant to be the most accessible, as all four items are well-known for their strong, savory flavors. Miso paste and soy sauce are staples in East Asian cuisine, while parmesan and vegemite offer their own unique umami punch in Italian and Australian fare, respectively.
For many players, this category was a quick win. As one solver noted in Lifehacker, "Maybe MISO PASTE, VEGEMITE, PARMESAN, and SOY SAUCE go together as salty ingredients." The connection was clear: each food delivers a robust, savory flavor profile that stands out in its culinary tradition.
The Green Group: Things a Beginner Might Learn on the Piano
The green group, considered the next easiest, focused on iconic piano pieces that nearly every beginner is likely to encounter. The answers here were CHOPSTICKS, FÜR ELISE, HEART AND SOUL, and THE ENTERTAINER. As Lifehacker explained, "THE ENTERTAINER is the name of this song," and all four are classics that have become synonymous with piano lessons around the world.
Players who have ever tinkered at a keyboard were likely to recognize these tunes. As one article put it, you might hear these songs "at a recital, over and over again." The inclusion of FÜR ELISE by Beethoven and Scott Joplin’s THE ENTERTAINER lent a touch of classical gravitas, while CHOPSTICKS and HEART AND SOUL brought in the playful, singalong side of early piano education.
The Blue Group: Starting with Magazines
Now things got trickier. The blue category required players to spot that each word or phrase began with the name of a well-known magazine: FORTUNE COOKIE, PEOPLE PERSON, SPINDERELLA, and TIME MACHINE. This clever twist sent many solvers down the wrong path initially, as the connections weren’t immediately obvious. As Lifehacker pointed out, "They start with magazine names: Fortune, People, Spin, and Time."
Some players initially suspected a link to stage names or pop culture, but the magazine connection ultimately won out. It’s a classic example of the kind of wordplay that makes Connections both maddening and addictive. If you’re the sort who keeps a stack of magazines on your coffee table, this group might have clicked a little faster.
The Purple Group: Ending in Synonyms for "Aggregate"
Finally, the purple group—always the trickiest—asked players to find words that ended with synonyms for "aggregate." The answers were COINCIDENTALLY, DIM SUM, TEETOTAL, and VISCOUNT. Here’s where wordplay aficionados got to flex their muscles: "sum," "total," "tally," and "count" are all synonyms for aggregate, and each appears at the end of one of these words or phrases. As Fortnite Insider described, "COINCIDENTALLY, DIM SUM, TEETOTAL, VISCOUNT" all end in words related to adding things up.
This was the kind of category that rewards careful reading and a willingness to break words apart. As one solver wrote, "If you break DIM SUM into two halves, you’ll see a word related to math." It’s the sort of realization that can lead to an "aha!" moment—or a groan, depending on how long you’ve been staring at the puzzle.
How to Play—and How to Win
For those new to Connections, the rules are simple in theory but challenging in practice. Players are presented with a four-by-four grid of sixteen words and must group them into sets of four that share a hidden theme. As Fortnite Insider explains, "Once you think you have figured out a group, simply click on the four words and click on submit to see if you got it right." But beware: the game is designed to trip you up with words that could fit into multiple categories, and only four mistakes are allowed before the answers are revealed.
Experienced players offer a few tips: Start with the yellow group, as it’s usually the most straightforward. Don’t be afraid to shuffle the board to see new combinations. And if you’re stuck, step away and come back later with fresh eyes. As one solver put it, "Trying to solve a difficult puzzle without 'sleeping' on it might result in too many mistakes."
Connections has quickly joined the ranks of the New York Times’ most beloved games, alongside Wordle and the daily crossword. Its blend of logic, wordplay, and occasional trickery keeps players coming back for more—even when the purple group leaves them scratching their heads.
So, whether you breezed through puzzle #1104 or found yourself stumped by synonyms for "aggregate," there’s always the promise of a new challenge tomorrow. And for those who crave a little help, there are always hints and answers waiting—just a click away.