Born in Marriage Announcements

Born in marriage announcements, the term ‘née’ is traditionally used to indicate a woman’s maiden name before marriage.

For crossword lovers, The New York Times is the gold standard. Its clever clues often blend wordplay, cultural references, and a touch of wit. One clue that has caught solvers’ attention is:

“Born in marriage announcements”

So, what does it mean—and what’s the answer?

The Answer

The solution to this clue is usually “NÉE” (pronounced nay).

Why “Née”?

• Definition: Née is a French word meaning “born,” often used in English to indicate a woman’s maiden name.
• In Marriage Announcements: Newspapers and formal announcements traditionally use née to list the original surname of a married woman. For example:
  “Mary Johnson, née Smith.”
• Crossword Trickiness: For those not familiar with French or old-fashioned newspaper styles, this tiny word can be a head-scratcher. That’s exactly why it’s a favorite in crossword puzzles.

A Bit of Crossword Culture

The NYT crossword loves short, foreign-derived words like née because they’re compact and versatile for puzzle construction. Alongside classics like olio, etui, and esne, née often pops up to test solvers’ vocabulary.

Why It Matters

This clue highlights how crosswords are not just about definitions—they’re about cultural literacy. Knowing terms from newspaper traditions, French borrowings, or even pop culture can help solvers crack the code.

So next time you see “Born in marriage announcements”, you’ll know the answer: NÉE.

Tip for solvers: Keep a mental list of common crossword “regulars.” Words like née show up often, and once you spot the pattern, those tricky clues become a lot easier.