NYT Strands
You woke up this morning, reached for your phone (I bet!), and somewhere between emails and doomscrolling, Strands popped up. If you’re already familiar with the NYT’s latest word-search-meets-brain-bender, skip ahead. Otherwise, settle in: today's puzzle kicked up a grid of currency clues — and yes, I did end up learning more about the Kwanza than I ever expected to at 8am. Here’s the breakdown, with some hands-on hints and answers for August 20.
NYT Strands Hints for August 20, 2025
The short answer: The theme for today’s NYT Strands is "Mint condition", and you should think about legal tender from around the world, because every solution is some kind of money, cash, or something you might stack under your mattress (if you’re that kind of eccentric).
But, you know how Strands keeps you guessing — so here’s how I tackled it:
Hint #1: The basic monetary unit of South Africa.
Hint #2: The basic monetary unit of Angola.
Hint #3: One is green and everyone jokes about it, but it’s used worldwide.
Hint #4: The puzzle nudges you to think not just about cash, but global currency — so don’t get stuck counting coins underneath your couch cushions.
Tips that helped me:
Don't overthink the grid layout; the spangram for today is vertical.
Think BIG — as in, not just the Euro or Dollar, but currencies with some international flavor.
Let yourself get a little meta: Global Currency is your key phrase.
Literally, even if you aren’t a financial wizard, this puzzle teaches you how rich (or confused) the world’s money can make us feel.
NYT Strands Answers Today August 20, 2025
The very first answer you’ll want: Global Currency. That’s your Spangram — it ties everything together and stretches vertically on the board.
Here’s the full word list that’ll unlock those electric Strands blue highlights and soothe your competitive ego:
- Rupee
- Pound
- Kwanza
- Dollar
- Euro
- Peso
- Rand
- Global Currency (the Spangram!)
Digression: The Puzzle Community
Look, Strands is gaining traction for a reason. Most mornings, you can find threads on Reddit and Twitter with people complaining, celebrating, or simply sharing word-lists that are way more ambitious than mine. It feels communal. I joined a text chain where my friend Tom insists he’s solving with “zero hints, like a crossword warrior.” I, on the other hand, shamelessly Google “Strands hints” before breakfast. No regrets.
Sometimes the answers remind me of family travel stories — Dad swapping pesos for rupees and nearly getting stuck in customs over a suspicious-looking coin. If Strands had a “Mishap of the Day” bonus round, I’d win with tales like that.
The Sweet Spot: Difficulty and Delight
Was today’s Strands hard? I’d say it invited more geography than usual, nudging you toward currencies that make you look up the conversion rate! But that’s the fun of it. You get smarter and find yourself rooting for obscure answers. Kwanza is hardly top-of-mind, but now it’s a word I won’t forget. Neither will you.
If you’re worried about streaks — yes, there’s a grid tracking how many days you’ve solved. It’s weirdly addicting, and missing a day makes me irrationally cranky. But hey, tomorrow’s always a new grid.
