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Learn Spelling Bee Basics

Updated: 2:06 pm EDT May 21, 2009

Bee Basics
  • It's officially the "Scripps National Spelling Bee."
  • The competition started with 275 spellers.
  • The spelling bee was founded in 1925. Scripps took over in 1941.

The Rules
  • Students must be younger than 16, as of June 1.
  • No one above eighth grade can compete.
  • Competitors must win a local spelling bee.
  • National champs are automatically retired.
  • All words come from Webster's Third International Dictionary, 2002 and addenda.
  • The bee starts with a 25-word written test. Then all rounds are oral.
  • Spellers are asked to pronounce the word before spelling. Judges can correct them.

Spellers Can Ask For:

  • Pronunciation
  • Definition
  • Use of the word in a sentence
  • Language of origin
  • If a specific root is attached to the word, but they must define that root word and give language of origin. In other words, they can say, "Is that from the French word 'pain', meaning bread?"

Some Winning Words
  • "Gladiolus" was the first winning word, in 1925. It's a plant.
  • "Foulard," 1931. A type of fabric.
  • "Promiscuous," 1937. Indiscriminate, especially sexually.
  • "Vignette," 1951. A short scene or story.
  • "Smaragdine," 1961. Relating to emeralds.
  • "Narcolepsy," 1976. A sleep disorder.
  • "Antediluvian,"1994. Ancient, extremely old.
  • "Pococurante," 2003. Apathetic.
  • "Autochthonous," 2004. Indigenous.
  • "Appoggiatura," 2005. A musical term.

Spelling "Bee?"
  • Scripps itself admits the term "bee" is a language puzzle.
  • The word "bee" has long been used for community gatherings like a "quilting bee."
  • It dates back at least 240 years.
  • Scholars once guessed "bee" was used because of the industrious nature of beehives.
  • But more recently, researchers think its from an old English dialect in which "been" or "bean" means voluntary help for neighbors.

Source: Scripps National Spelling Bee

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