Quick Answer
Clue: “Singing candlestick in ‘Beauty and the Beast’”
Answer: LUMIERE
Answer length: 7 letters
Clue number & direction: 2-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Singing candlestick in ‘Beauty and the Beast’” is answered with LUMIERE.
Why “LUMIERE” Is the Right NYT Answer
- Lumière is the enchanted candelabra in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, famous for singing “Be Our Guest” and other musical numbers, so he is literally the singing candlestick in the film.
- NYT Mini answer pages and solver sites all confirm that the 7-letter solution for this January 24, 2026 clue is LUMIERE at 2-Down.
What “LUMIERE” Means in Plain English
- Lumière is the name of the talking, singing candlestick character in Beauty and the Beast, originally voiced by Jerry Orbach in the 1991 animated movie and later portrayed by Ewan McGregor in the live-action remake.
- His French name means “light,” which neatly matches his role as a candelabra who literally and figuratively brightens the castle.
Crossword-Specific Help and Patterns
- In the grid, LUMIERE appears as L U M I E R E, so you might see patterns like LUMI__E or L_MIERE before you finish the downs.
- The name shows up fairly often in modern crosswords, usually clued with “candlestick in ‘Beauty and the Beast’” or “singer of ‘Be Our Guest.’”
- On this Mini, crossings from entries like PADTHAI, SAUNA, MADMEN, and BEDTIME lock in the unusual vowel sequence U–I–E–E for LUMIERE at 2-Down.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue references a specific Disney character plus an object (“teapot,” “clock,” “candlestick”), think of iconic names: MRS POTS/MRSPOTTS, COGSWORTH, LUMIERE, then match the enumeration.
Uncommon name patterns like _UMIERE are strong giveaways; once you see LUM__, Disney fans can often drop in LUMIERE from memory.
