__ lettres: literary genre

Latest answer — September 19, 2026

39 Down

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Clue explained

“Belles-lettres” is a literary genre or category concerned with literature valued for its aesthetic form. BELLES fills the blank in the French phrase, which is normally hyphenated.

Clue type:
Fill-in-the-blank
A display of literary books representing belles-lettres

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Saturday, September 19, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

Across

  1. 1Amateurs who are known to make waves
  2. 13Place where flights are astronomical
  3. 14Meet-cute genre
  4. 15Piglike herbivores
  5. 16Female kangaroo
  6. 17Need for constructing some temporary buildings
  7. 18Great Lakes fish
  8. 19Cause of a mass movement?
  9. 21Handmade letters
  10. 22Sense of gloom
  11. 23Losses
  12. 25Business with a relaxed dress code?
  13. 26Award-winning Netflix series about conflict
  14. 27Seehorn of "Pluribus"
  15. 29Pending
  16. 31Antique counter
  17. 33Emigre from Kerala, say
  18. 34Bearing
  19. 35Trunk stabilizer
  20. 37__ Medal: National Geographic Society honor
  21. 39Word with tester or blocker
  22. 40Jamaican style
  23. 43Classic Times Square lights
  24. 44Two-time NBA Finals MVP Durant
  25. 45Student setting out for the bar?
  26. 47Reward for a sacrifice, at times
  27. 48"Farewell"
  28. 49Solar-powered lighting?
  29. 52One whose digits are shielded
  30. 53Guest spots?

Down

  1. 1Mark visible on many planets
  2. 2To pieces
  3. 3__ rea
  4. 4Fall Classic mo.
  5. 5Was worth it
  6. 6Program extension
  7. 7Furniture for a kid who's growing up fast?
  8. 8Versatile fruit, for short
  9. 9Coverage resource
  10. 10Water : naiad :: mountain : __
  11. 11Spoke multiple times?
  12. 12In a foxy way
  13. 13Ballet dancer Misty
  14. 14New York/New Jersey's __ Mountains
  15. 15Recipe amts.
  16. 19Doomscroller's milieu
  17. 20"__ Frome"
  18. 23Do some peer review, legally?
  19. 24Triple __
  20. 26Mr. Smee in "Peter Pan," e.g.
  21. 28"Farewell"
  22. 30Chuckle sound
  23. 31Publicizes
  24. 32Counter protests?
  25. 34Plants whose roots are used to make tapioca
  26. 36Complete rapidly, with "out"
  27. 38Fishing gadget
  28. 39__ lettres: literary genre
  29. 40Daytime fare
  30. 41Metalworking ridge
  31. 42American Eagle Outfitters subsidiary
  32. 44Animal that sleeps 18 to 22 hours a day
  33. 46Robert Indiana sculpture
  34. 48Ego
  35. 50Grammy category
  36. 51Big name in pasta sauce

The answer to “__ lettres: literary genre” in the The Washington Post crossword is BELLES — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 19, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 39-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.

“__ lettres: literary genre” answer

BELLES (6 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 BELLES.

What does BELLES mean?

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

(noun)

  • a beautiful girl or woman, especially the most beautiful at a particular event

When else has “__ lettres: literary genre” appeared?

The Washington Post 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.

September 19, 2026 (most recent) → BELLES. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “__ lettres: literary genre”?

The answer is BELLES, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 19, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “__ lettres: literary genre”?

6 letters: BELLES.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on September 19, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 39-Down.

Can “__ lettres: literary genre” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post 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 WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for September 19, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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