NYT Strands hints, spangram and answers for November 6: Here’s how to decode the Thursday puzzle #613

The New York Times continues to expand its popular word game portfolio with NYT Strands, a puzzle that’s quickly becoming a daily ritual for word enthusiasts. On Thursday, November 6, the game’s latest challenge — Strands #613, invites players to decipher the theme “____ City,” testing their ability to identify famous city nicknames from across the world. Below is a detailed look at today’s NYT Strands hints, the Spangram answer, and all of the day’s solutions.

What is NYT Strands?

NYT Strands is the newest addition to The New York Times’ growing lineup of interactive word games, joining the ranks of Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword. Introduced as a daily word challenge, Strands blends vocabulary knowledge, spatial reasoning, and lateral thinking.

In each puzzle, players must identify hidden words within a grid of letters. These words relate to a central theme, and all theme words remain highlighted in blue once correctly found. The key to success lies in discovering the “Spangram” — a special word or phrase that defines the theme and stretches across two opposite sides of the board. The Spangram highlights in yellow when found, signaling the player has uncovered the puzzle’s underlying connection.


According to The New York Times, the rules are simple:

• Find all theme words that fill the board without overlap.
  
• Drag or tap to connect letters into words; double-tap to confirm.
  
• Every three non-theme words found unlock a hint.
  
• The Spangram provides the thematic clue, describing the day’s overall topic.
  

This blend of logic, vocabulary, and design has made Strands a daily obsession for many players worldwide.

NYT Strands Hints for November 6, 2025

The theme for Thursday’s puzzle was “____ City,” prompting players to think of endearing nicknames often associated with iconic global destinations. The NYT Strands hints provided subtle direction, encouraging solvers to “think fond monikers for places.”

Players were tasked with uncovering eight themed words, including the Spangram. The first two letters of each were given as clues, as per a report by Parade magazine:

• MA
  
• GO
  
• MO
  
• MU
  
• WI
  
• EM
  
• ET
  
• NI (Spangram)
  

The day’s Spangram ran both vertically and diagonally across the grid — a design twist that heightened the challenge for regular players.

NYT Strands Spangram and Theme Words Revealed

For puzzle #613, the Spangram answer perfectly tied the day’s theme together. The Spangram answer was “NICKNAME.”

The eight corresponding theme words reflected famous nicknames of cities known across the world, from the romantic to the historic:

• MAGIC
  
• GOLDEN
  
• MOTOR
  
• MUSIC
  
• WINDY
  
• EMERALD
  
• ETERNAL
  
• SPANGRAM: NICKNAME
  

Together, these words represented renowned city epithets — Magic City (Miami), Golden City (San Francisco), Motor City (Detroit), Music City (Nashville), Windy City (Chicago), Emerald City (Seattle), and Eternal City (Rome).

FAQs

How do you play NYT Strands?

Players search for hidden words within a grid, all connected to a central theme. The objective is to find the “Spangram,” which defines that theme and connects two opposite sides of the puzzle.

What is the NYT Strands Spangram?

The Spangram is a special word or phrase that encapsulates the puzzle’s theme. It highlights in yellow when found and connects both sides of the game board.