Why this word appears in Connections
In NYT Connections #1243 on November 5, 2026, UVULA belongs with PEAR, RAINDROP and SPEEDBAG in the blue group, TEARDROP-SHAPED THINGS. The shared feature is a familiar outline, not a shared function. Once you picture the hanging flap, its connection to the other three tiles is easier to see.
Puzzles featuring this word
Why a uvula suggests a teardrop
Cleveland Clinic describes the uvula as teardrop-shaped and compares it to a punching bag. It also notes that some uvulas are more oval. The category uses a recognizable silhouette; it does not require every person's anatomy to have exactly the same shape.
Picture the outline, not a body-part category
Our solving tip: after identifying UVULA, try sketching its outline mentally instead of looking only for other anatomy words. PEAR and SPEEDBAG point toward a visual category. RAINDROP refers to the conventional drawn symbol: NASA explains that real falling drops begin round and flatten as air resistance acts on them.
The plural of uvula
Merriam-Webster lists both uvulas and uvulae. Our example sentence: “The illustration shows the uvula at the back of the mouth.” In this puzzle, the tile uses the singular form UVULA.
How do you pronounce it?
Say YOO-vyoo-luh, with the stress on the first syllable, following the National Cancer Institute's pronunciation guide. The initial sound is like the word you.
Where the word comes from
Merriam-Webster traces uvula through Middle English to Medieval Latin, as a diminutive of Latin uva, meaning a grape cluster. Cleveland Clinic gives the familiar translation little grape. That origin is separate from the puzzle's teardrop comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What does uvula mean in Connections?
It names the small flap at the back of the soft palate. In the November 5, 2026 puzzle, its outline puts it in TEARDROP-SHAPED THINGS with PEAR, RAINDROP and SPEEDBAG.
How do you pronounce uvula?
The National Cancer Institute renders it YOO-vyoo-luh. Stress the first syllable.
Does uvula mean little grape?
That is the familiar Latin-origin translation given by Cleveland Clinic. Merriam-Webster traces the word to a Medieval Latin diminutive of uva.