The level of difficulty in this week's puzzle is just right.Q: Think of a means of transportation in seven letters. Change the fifth letter to a U and read the result backward. You'll get a common Latin word followed by its English synonym. What words are these?
Sunday, September 06, 2026
NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 6, 2026): From the Latin, transportare "to carry across"
NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 6, 2026): From the Latin, transportare "to carry across"
39 comments:
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This one took some serious thought.
ReplyDeleteNorman Schwarzkopf
ReplyDeleteChange the fifth letter in the transportation to an M and rearrange. You get another form of transportation.
ReplyDeleteHow some of us learned to drive.
DeleteA bit of a “stretch” for a hint: “Yankee Doodle Dandy."
ReplyDeleteThink of an animal in eight letters. Switch positions of the second and third letters, and drop the last letter; then read backwards. Kind of a long way to go, but if you don't get discouraged you might find something of value.
ReplyDeleteI have what I believe is the answer...it certainly works..but I do not get any of the clues offered so far.....but that's just another Sunday
ReplyDeleteExcellent wordplay, Cap. To use a Latin word befitting your pseudonym, super!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lancek
DeleteI get Nodd's clue, but no others.
ReplyDeleteI do ride it, but not often.
You might want to wait until the afternoon to solve this one, Al.
ReplyDeleteIs there, or isn’t there?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGot it! (I hope this isn't TMI.)
ReplyDeleteLOL! --Margaret G.
DeleteWolfgang - that’s funny!
ReplyDeleteDuring my solving process, I found what seemed like a National Enquirer headline.
I also thought I heard the Latin word spoken at a recent event I attended, but not quite (almost a homophone).
ReplyDeleteTractor would turn into "roucart", but most art is not called "rouc".
ReplyDeleteWow. My scrambled head undulates with this one. Nice Sunday puzzle.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ben
DeleteMy musical training came in handy here.
ReplyDeleteIf You told me where you had your musical training, I'm sure it would be TMI
DeleteBy George, I think I've got it!
ReplyDeleteRight day for a transport puzzle. Left our home at 0 Dark 30, finally read the puzzle between planes in Denver. (Hi Word Woman.) Got lucky. Now boarding next flight.
ReplyDeleteNo clues here. Gotta jet.
I do see a connection though (no pun intended).
DeleteHi Super Zee! Enjoy your vakay.
DeleteI finally figured out the answer.
ReplyDeleteRemove any letters that appear more than once in the form of transportation. Rearrange to get something that is not nice to do to others.
DeleteNot seeing it Jaws. At least, not with my answer, which could be wrong.
DeleteThere seems to be an extra letter.
DeleteThis quiz leads us, of course, to Cleveland.
ReplyDeleteZeno, I had to look it up. I had no idea
DeleteGood one, Cap. I have only used this means of transportation once, many years ago.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lorenzo
ReplyDeleteVery cool! There are some who would say that the English equivalent is a synonym for the Latin whichever direction you spell it. I hear this means of transport is getting increasingly difficult due to human interference and indifference.
ReplyDeleteI took Latin I and II in high school. That didn't help me with this puzzle. What did help was a pen and paper and logic. Nothing but logic, a pen and paper. Somehow, the answer came to me. Like magic.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the instructions of the puzzle, if you also change the last letter to a certain high value scrabble letter, and read the result backwards, you can get a potential variation of this week’s puzzle….i wonder if the creator considered that.
ReplyDeleteA literary hint (better, I hope than my hint above): Aeschylus.
ReplyDeleteWhile in college, my son participated in a race involving this means of transportation, sort of.
ReplyDelete