NYT Connections April 12, 2025 #671 Hints & Answers
Need help with the New York Times Connections puzzle for April 12, 2025? PuzzHelp offers a complete guide with progressive hints, full answers, and insights for today's NYT Connections game #671. Our step-by-step approach helps you learn category patterns and solve challenging word groups without spoiling the fun. Explore hints, answers, and interesting facts about each category below.
Today's Connections Hints
General Hints
Click to reveal a helpful hint about each category in today's game.
One Word from Each Category
Click to reveal one word from each color group to help you get started.
Today's Connections Answers
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME
BIT, FLASH, JIFF, SEC
DO WRONG
ERR, FALL, SIN, STRAY
N.B.A. PLAYER
BUCK, NET, SPUR, SUN
STARTS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES
BOTS, CAME, KEN, TAN
Answer Explanations
Word-by-Word Analysis
BIT
A small amount or short period of time, as in 'wait a bit'
FLASH
An extremely brief moment, often describing something that happens as quickly as a flash of light
JIFF
A colloquial term for a very brief moment of time, short for 'jiffy'
SEC
Short for 'second,' the base unit of time in the International System of Units
The term 'jiffy' (from which 'jiff' derives) has specific scientific meanings in different fields. In electronics, a 'jiffy' is the time between alternating current power cycles (1/60th or 1/50th of a second). In quantum physics, it represents the time it takes light to travel one fermi (about 3 × 10^-24 seconds). In computing, it typically refers to a single tick of the system timer interrupt.
Word-by-Word Analysis
ERR
To make a mistake or be incorrect in judgment or action
FALL
In this context, to succumb to temptation or sin, as in 'fall from grace'
SIN
An act that violates religious or moral law
STRAY
To wander from the correct path, literally or figuratively; to deviate from what is right
The concept of 'sin' appears in virtually all major world religions but with significant variations. The original Greek word for sin in the New Testament is 'hamartia,' which literally means 'to miss the mark' or 'to err' - a term borrowed from archery where it described an arrow missing its target. This etymology reveals that the original concept was more about falling short of an ideal rather than an act of evil.
Word-by-Word Analysis
BUCK
Short for the Milwaukee Bucks, an NBA team founded in 1968 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
NET
Short for the Brooklyn Nets, an NBA team based in Brooklyn, New York, formerly known as the New Jersey Nets
SPUR
Short for the San Antonio Spurs, an NBA team based in San Antonio, Texas
SUN
Short for the Phoenix Suns, an NBA team based in Phoenix, Arizona
The San Antonio Spurs hold the NBA record for the longest consecutive playoff streak at 22 seasons (1998-2019). During this remarkable run, they won five NBA championships under coach Gregg Popovich, who is the longest-tenured active coach in NBA history and all major North American sports leagues, having led the Spurs since 1996.
Word-by-Word Analysis
BOTS
The first four letters of Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa
CAME
The first four letters of Cameroon, a country in Central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea
KEN
The first three letters of Kenya, a country in East Africa known for its wildlife and the Great Rift Valley
TAN
The first three letters of Tanzania, an East African country home to Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti National Park
Botswana has experienced one of the world's fastest growth rates per capita income since its independence in 1966. The country transformed from one of the poorest nations to a middle-income nation, largely due to its diamond mining industry and prudent economic management. Botswana is often cited as an African success story and has maintained one of Africa's most stable and democratic governments.
Today's Red Herrings
Time-Related Words
SEC and JIFF clearly relate to time, but SUN could be mistaken as part of this group (as in 'sun time' or the day cycle), potentially creating confusion with the actual time category.
Natural Elements
SUN, FLASH, and possibly FALL (as in 'rainfall') might appear to form a natural phenomena group, distracting from their intended categories.
Technology Terms
BIT (computing), NET (internet), and possibly FLASH (memory/software) could mislead players toward a technology grouping.
Measurement Words
SEC (second), BIT (small amount), TAN (trigonometry), and NET (after deductions) could all relate to different types of measurements or quantities.
Letter Count Connection
SIN, SUN, TAN, KEN, and NET are all three-letter words, potentially creating a false pattern based on word length rather than meaning.
Today's Learning Moments
Geographic Knowledge
The 'STARTS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES' category encourages players to expand their geographic awareness beyond commonly referenced African nations, highlighting less-discussed countries like Botswana and Cameroon.
Sports Team Naming Conventions
The NBA category reveals how sports team names often use pluralized nouns that can stand alone in singular form, creating an interesting linguistic pattern where a single word (like 'Buck') represents a collective entity.
Time Expression Variety
The 'SHORT PERIOD OF TIME' category showcases how English has developed multiple colloquial expressions for brief moments, reflecting the cultural importance of discussing time intervals across different contexts.
Moral Vocabulary Nuances
The 'DO WRONG' category illustrates the spectrum of terms English uses to describe ethical or moral transgressions, from religious concepts (SIN) to directional metaphors (STRAY) to simple mistakes (ERR).
Word Form Flexibility
Many words in this puzzle have multiple meanings and functions (FALL as a season/action, STRAY as noun/verb, NET as basketball equipment/team), demonstrating English's rich semantic flexibility.
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