NYT Connections · September 13, 2026
Why Does KEWPIE Equal Q-P in NYT Connections?
KEWPIE is pronounced roughly “cue-pee,” which sounds like the spoken letter names Q-P. That is why it belongs with EMPTY, EXCESS and ODIE in the NYT Connections group WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS.
| Word | Letter names |
|---|---|
| EMPTY | M-T |
| EXCESS | X-S |
| KEWPIE | Q-P |
| ODIE | O-D |
Why now
KEWPIE belongs in the two-letter-sound group because its pronunciation sounds like Q-P.
The connection
Why here
What does Kewpie mean?
Kewpie is best known as the name associated with the Kewpie doll, a distinctive doll character with a round face, large eyes and a small curl or topknot. The name is also familiar today from the Kewpie brand, including Kewpie mayonnaise.
None of those meanings creates the Connections group. The puzzle is using the sound of the word.
How do you pronounce KEWPIE?
Cambridge gives the English pronunciation as /ˈkjuː.pi/. In a simple reading cue, that is close to “cue-pee.”
Say those two syllables aloud:
- cue — Q
- pee — P
Together, KEWPIE sounds like Q-P.
More context
Context
How the whole Connections group works
EMPTY sounds like M-T. EXCESS sounds like X-S. KEWPIE sounds like Q-P. ODIE sounds like O-D. Each full word therefore sounds like the names of two English letters spoken one after the other.
Why KEWPIE confused so many players
The trick depends on hearing the word correctly. If you have only seen KEWPIE in writing, or if you mainly know the mayonnaise brand without ever saying the name aloud, the Q-P relationship is easy to miss.
That is why the page needs more than the category label. The missing step is pronunciation.
Keep exploring
More from Connections #1190
Evidence
Sources
- Connections puzzle for September 13, 2026 — The New York Times
The sound-based group and intended word assignments.
- English pronunciation of kewpie — Cambridge Dictionary
The English pronunciation /ˈkjuː.pi/.
- Kewpie doll — Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
The Kewpie doll definition and pronunciation.