Word Pronounced Like Its First Letter (Which Is Followed By Four Vowels) Crossword Clue

By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: Apr 24, 2025

Puzzling over the intriguing "Word pronounced like its first letter (which is followed by four vowels)" clue from the Apr 24, 2025 New York Times Mini crossword? We've identified the exact 5-letter answer you're looking for. For those who enjoy a more interactive solving experience, we've created engaging features to enhance your journey. Utilize our progressive letter reveal tool to uncover the solution gradually, or explore our carefully crafted hints—including helpful anagrams, similar clues with matching answers, or detailed definitions to guide your thinking. We've also simplified navigation between related clues from the same puzzle, making it effortless to solve multiple clues at once. Ready to expand your crossword expertise? Let's explore this fascinating linguistic solution!

Crossword Answer:

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About This Clue

The April 24, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Word pronounced like its first letter (which is followed by four vowels)" with the answer QUEUE. This is a fascinating linguistic clue that plays on the unique pronunciation and spelling of the word "queue." The word "queue" is pronounced exactly like the letter "Q" (/kjuː/), which is its first letter. What makes this word particularly interesting is that the first letter Q is followed by four consecutive vowels: U, E, U, E. This unusual vowel pattern is rare in English words, making QUEUE a perfect answer for this descriptive clue. The clue elegantly combines both pronunciation and spelling characteristics to lead solvers to the answer.

The Fascinating Etymology of "Queue"

The word "queue" has an interesting linguistic history that explains its unusual spelling. It comes to English from French, where it literally means "tail." The origin can be traced back to the Latin word "coda" (also meaning tail), which evolved into "cauda" and eventually the Old French "cue" or "queue." The word entered English usage in the 16th century but maintained its French spelling with the distinctive four vowels following the letter Q. Initially referring to a literal tail or to a line of people standing one behind another (resembling a tail), the word has evolved in modern times to also describe waiting lines in digital contexts, such as task queues in computing or streaming queues for digital content. The pronunciation simplified over time to match the sound of the letter Q, creating the linguistic curiosity highlighted in this crossword clue. English has few words with four consecutive vowels, making "queue" particularly distinctive both in spelling and pronunciation.

NYT Mini Crossword Tips

When solving descriptive linguistic clues like "Word pronounced like its first letter (which is followed by four vowels)" in the NYT Mini Crossword, approach them by breaking down the specific characteristics mentioned. For this type of clue, identify words that have unique pronunciation patterns or unusual letter arrangements. The parenthetical information often provides a critical hint that narrows down the possibilities significantly—in this case, the four vowels following the first letter is the key distinguishing feature. The NYT Mini frequently includes wordplay involving homophones, spelling patterns, and linguistic quirks. These clues reward solvers who have a good ear for language and knowledge of unusual words. For this particular clue, recognizing that very few English words contain four consecutive vowels makes QUEUE the obvious answer once you consider the pronunciation aspect. When faced with similar linguistic clues in the future, look for words with distinctive spelling or pronunciation features that match all aspects of the clue.

Related Crossword Answers

More Clues & Answers For The New York Times Mini (April 24, 2025)

ACROSS

• 1. Tiny cotton swab
• 5. Leaves on the stove too long
• 6. They're used to hunt and peck
• 7. "I'm trying to focus here!"
• 8. Button that might make a "Whoosh!" sound

DOWN

• 1. Word pronounced like its first letter (which is followed by four vowels)
• 2. Feature of an extravagant wedding dress
• 3. Signed, as a contract
• 4. Verbal alternative to a tap on the shoulder
• 5. Some backyard parties, for short