Brazilian dance

Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026

9 Across

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Samba dancers and percussionists performing in a Rio Carnival parade.

Clue explained

Samba is a Brazilian music-and-dance tradition, especially associated with Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival. Its rhythms draw on Afro-Brazilian cultural traditions, and samba schools prepare elaborate performances for Carnival parades, with percussionists and dancers moving together. The word covers several styles: a fast parade samba is only one way to hear and dance to it.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Monday, October 12, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Place for a mud bath
  2. 4Not just mine
  3. 8Smooth-talking
  4. 9Brazilian dance
  5. 10Sailor's "Yes, sir!"
  6. 12R&B; group with the 1995 #1 hit "Waterfalls"
  7. 13Let sleeping dogs ___
  8. 14Trial figure giving a firsthand account
  9. 19Recede, as the tide
  10. 20One of two in the game Catan
  11. 21Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?
  12. 25Nods off for a bit
  13. 26Tied, as shoes
  14. 27Org. with the Nets and Knicks
  15. 28Tons and tons

Down

  1. 1In a crafty way
  2. 2Bishop, but not priest
  3. 3"Shark Tank" airer
  4. 4Like Cheerios and some breakfast bars
  5. 5Thurman of "Kill Bill"
  6. 6Slugger's stat
  7. 7First word in the names of seven counties in California
  8. 8Golden ___ Bridge
  9. 9"Ammunition" for a class clown
  10. 11It might be disproved by a 14-Across
  11. 15Moistens
  12. 16Order from a monarch, say
  13. 17S, M, L and XL
  14. 18N.C.A.A. bracket assignment
  15. 21Holiday ___
  16. 22Catch red-handed
  17. 23Tap option at a craft brewery, for short
  18. 24Thai's neighbor

The answer to “Brazilian dance” in the New York Times Midi crossword is SAMBA — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 9-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Brazilian dance” answer

SAMBA (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is SAMBA.

What does SAMBA mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of SAMBA is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a Brazilian dance of African origin

When else has “Brazilian dance” appeared?

New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

October 12, 2026 (most recent) → SAMBA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Brazilian dance”?

The answer is SAMBA, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Brazilian dance”?

5 letters: SAMBA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 9-Across.

Can “Brazilian dance” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Midi answers?

The full grid for October 12, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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