Quick Answer
Clue: “The ‘L’ of TTYL”
Answer: LATER
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 6-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “The ‘L’ of TTYL” is answered with LATER, since TTYL stands for “talk to you later.”
Why LATER Is the Right NYT Answer
- The texting abbreviation TTYL is an initialism formed from the phrase “talk to you later”: T = talk, T = to, Y = you, L = later. So if the clue asks for the “L” of TTYL, it’s specifically targeting the word LATER, which neatly fits the 5-letter slot.
- NYT Mini answer roundups and crossword-helper sites for January 29, 2026 all list LATER as the solution to this exact clue.
What LATER Means in Plain English
- Later simply means at a future time, after the present moment or after something else. In “talk to you later,” it signals that the conversation will continue at another time, often used as a casual sign-off in chats and texts.
- In everyday use, you’ll also hear “See you later,” “Catch you later,” or just “Later!” as informal goodbyes.
Crossword-Specific Help for LATER
- In the grid, LATER appears as L A T E R; from crossings you might initially see L_TER, _ATER, or LA_ER, which quickly points to LATER when paired with a texting abbreviation clue.
- Crossword databases show LATER as a frequent answer for clues like “Eventually,” “Not now,” “After a while,” and abbreviation-based prompts involving TTYL.
- Because texting slang is common in modern NYT Minis, recognizing TTYL → “talk to you later” gives you an immediate in for this entry.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue references TTYL, remember the mapping: T = talk, T = to, Y = you, L = later; any “L of TTYL”–style clue is pointing to LATER.
- Watch for other chat abbreviations used like this: “The ‘B’ of BRB” (BACK) or “The ‘R’ of IRL” (REAL); NYT likes to test texting vocab in Minis.
If crossings show L_T_R with a clueset about time or texting, filling in LATER is usually safe and helps unlock surrounding answers.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 29, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Employees, collectively | View Answer |
| 6A | The “L” of TTYL | View Answer |
| 7A | Slowly lessen, as political support | View Answer |
| 8A | Dunkin’ offering | View Answer |
| 9A | Tricky things to navigate with a stroller | View Answer |
| 1D | Toys that go on the decline in winter? | View Answer |
| 2D | Set of fortunetelling cards | View Answer |
| 3D | Make amends | View Answer |
| 4D | Out of patience | View Answer |
| 5D | Guitar bars | View Answer |
