First word in the names of seven counties in California

Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026

7 Down

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A California county map with counties whose names begin with San.

Clue explained

“San” begins the names of seven California counties, including San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, and San Bernardino. The full set also includes San Benito, San Joaquin, and San Luis Obispo. The clue asks for the shared first word, not for one particular county.

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 “First word in the names of seven counties in California” in the New York Times Midi crossword is SAN — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 7-Down. 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.

“First word in the names of seven counties in California” answer

SAN (3 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 SAN.

When else has “First word in the names of seven counties in California” 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) → SAN. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “First word in the names of seven counties in California”?

The answer is SAN, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “First word in the names of seven counties in California”?

3 letters: SAN.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 7-Down.

Can “First word in the names of seven counties in California” 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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