The NYT Mini Crossword for Saturday, September 12, 2026, features the expanded 7×7 grid layout standard for weekend editions. This larger format allows for slightly longer entries compared to the weekday 5×5 versions, though the clues maintain the Mini’s signature accessibility.
Hints for Today’s Puzzle
If you are looking for a nudge in the right direction without seeing the full solution yet, consider these hints for the September 12 puzzle:
- 1A (Italian Menu): While “ostriche” might look like a flightless bird in English, in Italian, it refers to a type of shellfish served on the half-shell.
- 8A (Tech Assistant): This refers to Microsoft’s specific AI branding found across Windows and Office.
- 4D (Literary Character): This character is the catalyst for Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
- 11A (Old but Gold): A term used for high-quality items from a past era, particularly cars or clothing.
SPOILER WARNING: The full solution for the NYT Mini Crossword is listed below.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for September 12, 2026
Across Answers
- 1A: If you order ‘ostriche’ on an Italian menu, you actually get these — OYSTERS
- 8A: Microsoft’s A.I. assistant — COPILOT
- 9A: Move-in-ready, as a house for sale — TURNKEY
- 10A: Home’s opposite, on scoreboards — AWAY
- 11A: Old and classic, as a car — VINTAGE
- 15A: They’re revved with a ‘Vroom!’ — ENGINES
- 16A: M, on a form — MALE
Down Answers
- 1D: Span from C to C, in music — OCTAVE
- 2D: ‘Fine, I give up’ — YOUWIN
- 3D: Pounced — SPRANG
- 4D: Young boy saved by Scrooge’s change of heart — TINYTIM
- 5D: Antlered animal of the Rockies — ELK
- 6D: Fish eggs — ROE
- 7D: Home with a trough of slop — STY
- 12D: Actress de Armas — ANA
- 13D: Stylist’s goo — GEL
- 14D: Suffix with Vietnam and Senegal — ESE
Today’s puzzle highlights include the linguistic clue for OYSTERS, as “ostriche” is the plural form of the Italian word ostrica. The inclusion of TINYTIM also brings a classic literary reference from Charles Dickens to the weekend grid.
