The Strands puzzle for Friday, July 31, 2026 (No. 880) runs under the theme “Summer sign,” and it leans on astrology rather than the weather. Every theme word is a personality trait tied to one zodiac sign, and the spangram spells out the sign itself. If you want to protect the solve, start with the soft hints below and stop before the reveal.
Quick answer: The spangram is LEOTHELION (Leo the Lion), and the six theme words are BOLD, BOSSY, CHARMING, DRAMATIC, GENEROUS, and LOYAL.
Spoiler-safe hints for “Summer sign”
Push astrology to the front of your mind, not the calendar. The clue points at a zodiac sign whose window falls in summer, and each theme word is a trait people use to describe someone born under it.
- Think about the qualities you’d attach to a confident, attention-loving person.
- Some answers describe leadership and command; others describe warmth and charm.
- There are seven strands in total, including the spangram.
- Word lengths run 4, 5, 5, 8, 8, and 8 letters for the traits.
- The spangram names the sign and its animal symbol, stretching from one side of the grid to the other.
Heads up: the full word list and spangram sit just below. Turn back now if you only wanted a nudge.
Grid positions and starting letters
Knowing where each strand begins can save a few guesses. Leaving the spangram aside, one trait starts on the top row, one on the bottom row, one on the left edge, and three begin somewhere in the middle of the board.
| Starting letter | Length |
|---|---|
| B | 4 letters |
| B | 5 letters |
| C | 8 letters |
| D | 8 letters |
| G | 8 letters |
| L | 5 letters |
| L (spangram) | edge to edge |
Clue words to earn in-game hints
Strands rewards you with a hint each time you find valid non-theme words of four letters or more. Spelling any of these on the board banks progress toward an automatic reveal without touching the answers.
- BEAM, HEAR, COLD, DOTE, DOTES
- RULE, RULER, BOLO, GORE
Full answers and spangram
The spangram is LEOTHELION. It reads as “Leo the Lion.” Begin at the L in the top row and wind across, down, then across again to trace it end to end.
| Theme word | Trait it describes |
|---|---|
| BOLD | Fearless, willing to stand out |
| BOSSY | Likes to lead and direct |
| LOYAL | Devoted to friends |
| CHARMING | Warm and magnetic |
| DRAMATIC | Flair for the theatrical |
| GENEROUS | Free with time and gifts |
You’ll know the board is solved when all seven strands glow and every letter on the 6×8 grid has been used. If any tiles are still blank, a strand is missing.
Why the theme is Leo
“Summer sign” points to Leo, the zodiac sign whose season sits squarely in the northern-hemisphere summer. The six traits are the descriptors most often stacked onto Leos, from confident leadership to open-handed warmth. The spangram ties the set together by naming both the sign and its symbol, the lion, which is where the “King of the jungle” wink comes from.
Solving strategy and common traps
Lock the spangram first when you can. Once LEOTHELION is placed, it slices the grid apart and leaves cleaner pockets of letters for the shorter traits. From there, scan diagonals early, since Strands hides plenty of words on an angle.
- Chasing the season. “Summer sign” tempts you toward beaches or heat words; the payoff is astrology instead.
- Overlapping B-words. BOLD and BOSSY both start with B, so double-check which four- or five-letter path you’re tracing.
- Burning hints too early. Save each earned reveal for the moment the grid stalls; a single unlocked strand often opens the rest.
FAQ
How many words are in the July 31 Strands?
Seven in total: six trait words plus the spangram. Strands puzzles usually carry six to eight theme entries, so this one sits in the middle.
What was the July 30 Strands answer?
The July 30, 2026 theme was “Trade names” with the spangram ARTISANS. Its words were COOPER, JOINER, MASON, POTTER, SMITH, TANNER, and WEAVER.
How do Strands hints actually work?
Find any non-theme word of four letters or more to build toward a hint. Once you’ve banked enough, using a hint reveals one theme word on the board automatically.
Leo makes for a friendly Friday board once the astrology angle clicks, since the traits are everyday words rather than obscure vocabulary. Trace LEOTHELION from that top-row L, fill in the six descriptors, and check that no tiles are left blank before you close the grid.
