This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, February 28, 2026 (9 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Saturday puzzles are the hardest of the week and themeless, so clues are often deliberately misleading.
Answer length: 4 squares
First letter
A _ _ _
First and last letters
A _ _ E
Show the answer
About the answer
AAVE as a word: Initialism of African-American Vernacular English. [A variation of Modern English spoken predominantly by lower socioeconomic class individuals of African de....
AAVE has been an answer 2 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since January 16, 2026.
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