Need help with today's NYT Mini Crossword? Here are all the clues, hints, and answers for Thursday, March 12, 2026. Hints come first — scroll past them only when you're ready for the full solutions.
What Is the NYT Mini Crossword?
The NYT Mini Crossword is a fast 5×5 crossword puzzle published daily by The New York Times. It's designed to be solved in minutes, making it a perfect daily brain warm-up before tackling the full crossword. While most puzzles are straightforward, the clue phrasing can occasionally catch you off guard — today's 7-Across being a good example.
Across Clues and Hints — March 12, 2026
1 Across: Like jerk chicken and chicken vindaloo
Hint: Think about what both of these dishes have in common on your taste buds.
6 Across: Capital of Vietnam
Hint: A two-syllable city name in Southeast Asia.
7 Across: "Well, would ya look at that!"
Hint: An old-fashioned exclamation of surprise — two words contracted into one. This one's tricky because it reads more like a phrase than a word.
8 Across: Gem in an oyster
Hint: A classic symbolance and refinement, formed naturally inside a shell.
9 Across: Thick roll of cash
Hint: A very short word for a bundle of banknotes.
Across Answers — March 12, 2026
1 Across: Like jerk chicken and chicken vindaloo
Answer: SPICY
6 Across: Capital of Vietnam
Answer: HANOI
7 Across: "Well, would ya look at that!"
Answer: ILLBE
8 Across: Gem in an oyster
Answer: PEARL
9 Across: Thick roll of cash
Answer: WAD
Down Clues and Hints — March 12, 2026
1 Down: Part of a naval fleet
Hint: A large vessel that sails the seas under military command.
2 Down: The "P" in I.P.A.
Hint: Think about what I.P.A. stands for — it's a word describing the colour of a lager.
3 Down: Relative by marriage
Hint: Not a blood relation — someone who joined the family through a wedding.
4 Down: King ___ (venomous snake)
Hint: A fearsome reptile found in South and Southeast Asia, known for its hood.
5 Down: Sign obeyed by merging traffic
Hint: A triangular road sign that tells you to slow and let others pass.
Down Answers — March 12, 2026
1 Down: Part of a naval fleet
Answer: SHIP
2 Down: The "P" in I.P.A.
Answer: PALE
3 Down: Relative by marriage
Answer: INLAW
4 Down: King ___ (venomous snake)
Answer: COBRA
5 Down: Sign obeyed by merging traffic
Answer: YIELD
Full Answer Summary — March 12, 2026
Across:
- 1 Across: SPICY
- 6 Across: HANOI
- 7 Across: ILLBE
- 8 Across: PEARL
- 9 Across: WAD
Down:
- 1 Down: SHIP
- 2 Down: PALE
- 3 Down: INLAW
- 4 Down: COBRA
- 5 Down: YIELD
Today's trickiest entry was almost certainly 7-Across — "ILLBE" is a contracted old-fashioned exclamation ("I'll be!") that doesn't look like a real word on the page, which makes it easy to second-guess yourself. Once you had SPICY locking in the S and PEARL giving you the L, the crossing letters helped nail it down.
More Daily Puzzle Help
Looking for hints from other days? Check out our recent Mini Crossword guides:
- Tuesday March 10 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- Monday March 9 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
Need help with other word puzzles today?