Spelling Bee August 21, 2026: Pangram & Answers
Recap
This puzzle's answers showcased a range of vocabulary, from the straightforward 'DOUGH' and 'GURU' to the more challenging 'NUNHOOD' and 'UNGROUND'. Solvers could find food words like 'UDON' and 'GOURD', as well as animal-related terms like 'HOUND' and 'DUGONG'. The seven-letter pangram 'GROUNDHOG' was a highlight, using all the available letters.
The seven letters
U DGHNOR
Every answer had to use U. The board accepted 23 words in all.
Spelling Bee hints, rung by rung
Six rungs, counts before words. The recap above already named the pangram, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.
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Hint 1: What kind of words the board rewarded
No answer is named.
The list features many words that use common letter pairs like 'ou', 'un', and 'ng'. There are also several words related to food, animals, and everyday objects. Some answers use the centre letter in combination with several outer letters.
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Hint 2: How many answers started with each letter
Counts only.
- D
- 6 answers
- U
- 5 answers
- G
- 4 answers
- H
- 3 answers
- R
- 3 answers
- N
- 2 answers
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Hint 3: Board facts
Counted off the accepted list.
- Centre letter
- U
- Outer letters
- D · G · H · N · O · R
- Accepted words
- 23
- Word lengths
- 4–9 letters
- Pangrams
- 1
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Hint 4: The pangram, without naming it
The seven-letter answer is a common noun, relating to an animal that lives in burrows and is often associated with a specific holiday.
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Hint 5: The two-letter list
How many answers started with each pair.
- DO
- 2
- DR
- 1
- DU
- 3
- GO
- 1
- GR
- 2
- GU
- 1
- HO
- 2
- HU
- 1
- NO
- 1
- NU
- 1
- RO
- 2
- RU
- 1
- UD
- 1
- UN
- 4
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Hint 6: The shape of each pangram
Every accepted word from that board
All of them, folded by opening letter. Open one letter at a time — nothing here reveals another group.
The pangram from that board
Pangram 1 · 9 letters
GROUNDHOG
Uses all seven letters — U, D, G, H, N, O, R — in 9 characters.
D · 6answers
DOUGHDOURDRUGDUGONGDUNGDUNNO
G · 4answers
GOURDGROUNDGROUNDHOGGURU
H · 3answers
HOUNDHOURHUNG
N · 2answers
NOUNNUNHOOD
R · 3answers
ROUGHROUNDRUNG
U · 5answers
UDONUNDOUNGROUNDUNHOODUNHUNG
This board by the numbers
- Date
- Friday, August 21, 2026
- Letters
- U in the middle, D G H N O R around it
- Accepted words
- 23
- Pangrams
- 1
- Word lengths
- 4–9 letters
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