Why Does “Khaki” Rhyme With “Tacky” in the NYT Mini?
The clue works only with one accepted pronunciation of KHAKI. Cambridge lists two U.S. pronunciations: /ˈkæ.ki/ /ˈkɑː.ki/ The first one sounds like “KACK-ee,” which rhymes with TACKY. The second sounds closer to “KAH-kee,” which does not. So if the September 23, 2026 NYT Mini clue sounded wrong to you, you may simply use the other accepted pronunciation.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Mini answer | KHAKI |
| Clue logic | KHAKI rhymes with TACKY |
| Pronunciation that makes the rhyme | /ˈkæ.ki/ |
| Other accepted U.S. pronunciation | /ˈkɑː.ki/ |
| Did you necessarily pronounce it wrong? | No |
Which pronunciation does the clue use?
The rhyme depends on:
KHAKI
/ˈkæ.ki/
TACKY
/ˈtæk.i/
Both end with the same “ACK-ee” sound.
That makes them a clean rhyme.
Why doesn’t KHAKI rhyme with TACKY for everyone?
Because KHAKI has more than one accepted pronunciation.
Cambridge lists both /ˈkæ.ki/ and /ˈkɑː.ki/ for U.S. English.
If you normally say /ˈkɑː.ki/, the first vowel sounds different from TACKY.
That makes the Mini clue feel odd even though the clue is using another accepted pronunciation.
Is /ˈkɑː.ki/ wrong?
No.
The dictionary lists it as a valid pronunciation.
The clue does not prove that every American speaker pronounces KHAKI the same way.
What does KHAKI mean here?
The Mini clue is referring to khaki as a clothing material or color term.
The pronunciation conflict is the real point of confusion, not the definition.
Evidence
Sources
- NYT Mini — September 23, 2026 puzzle data
- Cambridge Dictionary — KHAKI pronunciation
- Cambridge Dictionary — KHAKI