“Able was I ___ I saw Elba” WSJ Crossword Clue

By Last Update: JUN 22, 2026 Follow on Google

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Clue History: “Able was I ___ I saw Elba”

Complete History & Past Answers

Answer Letters Puzzle
Answer ERE
Letters 3
Puzzle WSJ Crossword - June 22 2026
Answer ERE
Letters 3
Puzzle WSJ Crossword - June 1 2026
Answer ERE
Letters 3
Puzzle WSJ Crossword - August 12 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Clue

The most common and recent 3-letter answer for "“Able was I ___ I saw Elba”" is ERE.
The clue refers to a famous palindrome attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte: 'Able was I ere I saw Elba.' The word 'ere' means 'before,' fitting the context of the sentence and completing the palindrome.
Ere means before in time.
Before, in a hymnbook, Before, in olden times, Shakespearean conjunction, Before, to Shakespeare, Prior to, poshly
WSJ Crossword - June 22 2026 - WSJ Crossword - June 1 2026 - WSJ Crossword - August 12 2025

The clue ““Able was I ___ I saw Elba”” is a classic crossword staple, frequently appearing in puzzles like the WSJ crossword. For the puzzle dated June 22 2026, the definitive 3-letter answer is: ERE.

Expert Tip: When you’re stuck, try to analyze the structure of the clue itself. Is it a direct definition, a pun, a fill-in-the-blank, or a pop culture reference? Identifying the type of clue you’re dealing with is a key skill for improving your solving speed.

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