blank Romeo (sporty Italian car) — NYT Mini Crossword Clue (October 18, 2025)
Word Tips calls out the Bravo preceder, the famous pronunciation trick for Alfa Romeo. That lands on ALFA. Our voice stays friendly so you imagine revving a coupe rather than reciting the NATO alphabet. Apostrophes appear as ' and quotation marks as " for valid HTML.
12 Down
blank Romeo (sporty Italian car)
Alfa Romeo builds stylish sports cars. Crosswords love the brand because the ALFA spelling stands out. Word Tips even highlights the letter order as A-L-F-A via the reveal slider, keeping every vowel and consonant in check.
Crossing Safety Net
- 11-Across BTSARMY cements the open vowels so you do not accidentally write alpha or alfa with an ending O.
- 13-Across ISLAM cements the open vowels so you do not accidentally write alpha or alfa with an ending O.
- 14-Across PUFFY cements the open vowels so you do not accidentally write alpha or alfa with an ending O.
- 15-Across SEATS cements the open vowels so you do not accidentally write alpha or alfa with an ending O.
Solver Cheat Sheet
Meaning Hint
Alfa Romeo is the brand. The clue asks for the first word, so ALFA is the only match.
Alternate Cue
Look for callbacks like "Italian automaker of the Giulia" or "Brand with a four leaf logo." They also land on ALFA.
Letter Pattern
ALFA uses the L-F combo without P or H, which differentiates it from alpha, the Greek letter.
Solve Smart
When a clue says "blank Romeo," immediately drop ALFA and let the crosses above confirm each letter.