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NYT Strands puzzle #695 for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, has the theme “Canine classics.” The spangram is HEREBOY, and the eight theme words are familiar dog names. If you want to solve it yourself, start with the spoiler-light clues below; the complete answer list follows in a clearly marked section.
Spoiler-light hints for January 27
- Theme hint: “Woof!”
- Think beyond breeds: The theme words are familiar names for dogs.
- Spangram clue: It has seven letters, begins with HE, and runs mostly horizontally. Its path touches the left edge on row 4 and the right edge on row 5.
- First-letter clues: SC, BA, SP, BL, BU, SC, CH. The spangram begins HE.
StrandsSolution’s archive independently lists the same theme and answers: StrandsSolution.
How hints work in Strands
Trace connected letters to form theme words; found words remain highlighted and fill the board without overlapping. The spangram describes the theme and reaches opposite sides of the board. It can contain two words. Finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint that reveals letters in a theme word, according to Parade’s guide, which attributes these rules to the New York Times: Parade’s Strands guide.
TechRadar lists BEER, CREEP, COVE, SCRUB, DOUR, and CLUE as examples of words that can unlock the hint system; these are not theme answers: TechRadar’s January 27 guide.
Spoilers: January 27 Strands answers
The spangram and theme words are:
- Spangram: HEREBOY
- BANDIT
- BLUE
- BUDDY
- CHAMP
- ROVER
- SCOUT
- SCRUFFY
- SPOT
TechRadar, Parade, and StrandsSolution agree on the date’s theme and answer set.
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