Language lover – NYT Mini crossword clues

“Language lover” is the hardest clue in today’s NYT Mini Crossword, probably because you’re overthinking it and looking for a formal dictionary term instead of something you might call your friend in a teasing way. Here’s how to solve it.

Language lover NYT Mini hints and answer

Here’s an extra hint to help you work out what “language lover” is in today’s puzzle. You’re looking for an informal expression instead of a technical term. The first word of the solution is in 9A, and the second is in 6D, so you’re looking for a two-word term. Here are some further tips:

1. It’s a playful term for a linguistics enthusiast in general, not only languages.
2. Someone would call you this if you told them you play word games daily.
3. It rhymes with “bird herd.”

The solution to “language lover” in 9A is WORD and 6D is NERD.

All other answers, including the mysterious 5A and 4D, are in our list of May 23 NYT Mini Crosswords solutions below.

ACROSS

• 1A Twinkler in Orion’s belt – STAR
• 5A “That’s a bummer …” – OHMAN
• 7A Someone saying yes on TV’s “Say Yes to the Dress” – BRIDE
• 8A Submarine’s tracker – SONAR
• 9A With 6-Down, language lover – WORD

DOWN

• 1D Cries uncontrollably – SOBS
• 2D Toss – THROW
• 3D ___ acid (biological building block) – AMINO
• 4D Spaceship’s tracker – RADAR
• 6D See 9-Across – NERD