NYT Daily • August 3, 2025
Major exporter of mangoes
Answer:
HAITI
Hint:
["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword clue:\n\n**\"This Caribbean nation is known for its tropical fruit exports, and its name sounds like a musical scale followed by a departure.\"**\n\nThis hint guides the solver by:\n1. Narrowing the location to the Caribbean.\n2. Mentioning tropical fruit exports (like mangoes) without repeating the clue.\n3. Hinting at the wordplay (\"major\" as a musical term and \"goes\" as a departure) without giving away the answer directly.\n\nIt’s easier than the original clue but still requires the solver to make the phonetic connection."]
Explanation:
Certainly! Here's a clear and concise explanation of how the clue leads to the answer: **Clue:** "Major exporter of mangoes" **Answer:** "HAITI" **Explanation:** This clue relies on a playful interpretation of the word "major." While "major" typically means "large" or "important," in music, a "major" is a type of scale or chord. The word "mangoes" sounds like "mangoes," but when spoken aloud, it can be interpreted as "man goes." Combining these ideas: - "Major" (musical term) + "man goes" (sounds like "mangoes") = "Major man goes" → "Haiti" (when pronounced, it sounds like "hay-tee," which phonetically resembles "major man goes" when spoken quickly or with a playful twist). This is an example of a **homophone-based wordplay** where the pronunciation of the words leads to the answer rather than their literal meanings. Additionally, Haiti is indeed known for exporting mangoes, adding a layer of factual relevance to the clue. **Final Connection:** The clue cleverly uses musical terminology and phonetic wordplay to hint at the answer "Haiti."