Quick Answer
Clue: “River whose basin spans 11 countries”
Answer: NILE
Answer length: 4 letters
Clue number and direction: 8-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “River whose basin spans 11 countries” is answered with NILE, filling the four-square 8-Across slot.
Why NILE Is the Right NYT Answer
- Geographically, the Nile River has a drainage basin that extends across 11 African countries, which matches the clue’s “basin spans 11 countries” detail exactly.
- Sources aimed at students and general readers list those countries as Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.
- NYT Mini answer recaps for January 27, 2026 explicitly give NILE as the solution to this 8-Across clue, confirming both the word and the 4-letter length.
- Other famous long rivers (like the Amazon) either have the wrong letter count or do not match the “11 countries” fact, leaving NILE as the only precise fit.
What NILE Means in Plain English
- The Nile is a major river in northeastern Africa, historically linked with ancient Egypt and often cited as one of the longest rivers in the world. Its waters support agriculture, transportation, and daily life for millions of people across its basin countries.
- In school geography and popular culture, the Nile is one of the best-known river names, which is why it appears so often in general-knowledge clues like this one.
Crossword-Specific Help for NILE
- In the grid, NILE appears as N I L E, and from crossings you may first see patterns like N_LE, _ILE, or NI_E in a 4-letter slot.
- For this Mini, 8-Across crosses down answers SHINE, CUMIN, AMPLE, ROLE, and FRY, which help confirm each letter of NILE via their intersecting positions.
- NILE is very common crossword fill—editors like it because it’s short, vowel-heavy, and connected to a lot of trivia (African river, Egyptian landmark, “source of life,” etc.).
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- Any 4-letter clue mentioning an African river, “Egyptian river,” “Aswan Dam river,” or “Cairo’s river” almost always points to NILE.
- When the clue references multiple countries or a basin spanning many nations, keep NILE in mind; its 11-country basin is a standard fact used in quiz and crossword material.
Use crossings: if you already have N from one down and E from another, and the theme is geography, NILE is usually the first thing to try in a 4-letter slot.
