9 Across

NYT Mini • September 16, 2025

Letters after kays

Answer:

ELS

Hint:

Think of how you might spell the word "okay" aloud—these are the next two sounds you’d hear.

Explanation:

This clue plays with the word "kays," which sounds like the letter "K." If you say "letters after kays," it’s asking for the letters that come after K in the alphabet—L, M, N, and so on. But since it’s a short answer, it’s just the first three letters after K: L, M, N shortened to their plural "els" (like how we say "double-yous" for Ws). The answer is "ELS" because it’s a clever way to represent those letters.

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General solving tip

Match the clue's grammar: plural with plural, past with past. If the clue ends in 's' or uses a past-tense verb, mirror that form in the entry.

More tips → General Hints