Quick Answer
Clue: “French-speaking nation in West Africa”
Answer: BENIN
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 1-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “French-speaking nation in West Africa” is answered with BENIN, a country where French is the official language.
Why BENIN Is the Right NYT Answer
- Benin is a West African country on the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger. It was formerly part of French West Africa, and today French is its sole official language, making it clearly “French-speaking.”
- Crossword helper sites and the January 30, 2026 NYT Mini answer roundups all give BENIN as the 5-letter solution for this exact clue, confirming it as the intended entry.
What BENIN Means in Plain English
- Benin (officially the Republic of Benin) is a French-speaking nation in West Africa known for its diverse ethnic groups and rich history, including the former Kingdom of Dahomey.
- French, introduced during the colonial era, remains the country’s official language and serves as a lingua franca across many indigenous language communities.
- In simple terms, when a puzzle asks for a French-speaking West African nation with 5 letters, BENIN is the best and most direct fit.
Crossword-Specific Help for BENIN
- In the grid, BENIN appears as B E N I N; with crossings you might see B_NIN or BE_IN, which quickly resolves once you notice “French-speaking” and “West Africa” in the clue.
- BENIN is a common geography entry for clues like “African nation on the Bight of Benin,” “Porto-Novo’s country,” or “Neighbor of Togo,” as well as “French-speaking nation in West Africa.”
- Because it’s short, vowel-rich, and geographically central in West Africa, BENIN is a staple in world-capitals and language-themed crossword sets.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- For 5-letter clues like “French-speaking nation in West Africa,” “Porto-Novo’s country,” “Country on the Bight of Benin,” think BENIN first.
- When you see “Francophone” or “French-speaking” plus “West Africa” in a clue, narrow candidates to known Francophone states like Benin, Togo, or Mali then match the letter count; 5 letters usually means BENIN or TOGO, but TOGO is only four.
If crossings give B_N_N or BE_IN in an Africa context, BENIN is almost always the intended fill.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 30, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | “Top Gear” | View Answer |
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| 7A | Middle of a drum kit, typically | View Answer |
| 8A | Political staffers | View Answer |
| 9A | Bottom-line figure | View Answer |
| 1D | French-speaking nation in West Africa | View Answer |
| 2D | Sharp part of a sword | View Answer |
| 3D | This text mark: ^ | View Answer |
| 4D | Left-leaning political org. | View Answer |
| 5D | “Right you are!” | View Answer |
