2016 pronouncer guide
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2016
CLASSROOM PRONOUNCER GUIDE
Spelling Only Edition
CONTENTS
Merriam-Webster Pronunciation Symbols ................................................................................ 2
Guidelines Regarding Pronunciation .......................................................................................... 3
Tips for Conducting Your Classroom Spelling Bee .................................................................... 4
Rules for Local Spelling Bees ....................................................................................................... 5
Words 1225: 2016 School Spelling Bee Study List Words ....................................................... 11
Words 226-250: Words Selected from Websters Third*......................................................... 42
Numerical Index of Spelling Words ......................................................................................... 45
Alphabetical Index of Spelling Words ...................................................................................... 46
*Websters Third New International Dictionary, copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster
2015, Scripps National Spelling BeeAll rights reserved.
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Merriam-Webster Pronunciation Symbols
...........banana, collect
, ...... humdrum
........... as in one pronunciation used by r-droppers for bird
(alternative\\)
........... two-value symbol equivalent to the unstressed variants\\,
\\, as in habit, duchess (\\=\b, -\)............ immediately preceding\\,\\,\\,\\, as in battle, mitten,
and in one pronunciation of cap andbells\--\, lock and
key\--\; immediately following\\,\\,\\, as in one
pronunciation of French table, prisme, titre
.......... as in one pronunciation used by r-droppers for bird
(alternative\\)
.......... operation; stressed, as in bird as pronounced by speakers
who do not drop r;stressed and with centered period after the
\\, as inone pronunciation of burry (alternative\\) and in
one pronunciation of hurry (alternative\\); stressed and
with centered period after\r\as in one pronunciation of
hurry (alternative\\)
........... mat, map........... day, fade, date, aorta
...........bother, cot; most American speakers have the same vowel in
father, cart
........... father as pronounced by speakers who do not rhyme it with
bother; farther and cart as pronounced by r-droppers
..........bad, bag, fan as often pronounced in an area having New
York City and Washington, D.C., on its perimeter; in an
emphatic syllable, as before a pause, often\\
.......... as in some pronunciations of bag, bang, pass
......... now, loud, some pronunciations of talcum
........... baby, rib
......... chin, nature\()\(actually, this sound is\\+\\)
........... elder, undone........... as in the usual American pronunciation of latter, ladder
...........bet, bed
, ......beat, nosebleed, evenly, sleepy
........... as in one pronunciation of evenly, sleepy, envious,
igneous (alternative\\)
.......... (in transcriptions of foreign words only) indicates a vowel
with the quality of ein betbut long, not the sound of eein
sleep: en arrire\\
......... as in one pronunciation of elk, helm
............ fifty, cuff
........... go, big
........... hat, ahead
........ whale as pronounced by those who do not have the samepronunciation for both whale and wail
............ tip, one pronunciation of banish (alternative unstressed\\),one pronunciation of habit (alternative\\; see )
............ site, side, buy(actually, this sound is\\+\\, or\\+\\)
.......... as in one pronunciation of milk, film
............job, gem, edge, procedure\()\(actually, this sound is
\\+\\)
........... kin, cook, ache
........... as in one pronunciation of loch(alternative\\), as in German
ich-laut
............ lily, pool
.......... murmur, dim, nymph
........... no, own............ indicates that a preceding vowel is pronounced with the nasal
passages open, as in French un bon vin blanc\\
........... sing\\, singer\()\, finger\()\, ink\\
...........bone, snow, beau; one pronunciation of glory
........... saw, all, saurian; one pronunciation of horrid
.......... French buf, German Hlle
.......... French feu, German Hhle
.......... coin, destroy, strawy, sawing
......... (in transcriptions of foreign words only) indicates a vowel
with the quality of oin bonebut longer, not the sound of oo
infood: comte\\
........... pepper, lip
............ rarity, one pronunciation of tar........... source, less
......... with nothing between, as in shy, mission, machine, special
(actually, this is a single sound, not two); with a stress mark
between, two sounds as in deaths-head\\
............ tie, attack; one pronunciation of latter (alternative\\)
.......... with nothing between, as in thin, ether (actually, this is a
single sound, not two); with a stress mark between, two
sounds as in knighthood\\
.......... then, either (actually, this is a single sound, not two)
........... rule, fool, youth, union\\, few\\
...........pull, wood, curable\\
.......... German fllen, hbsch
.......... French rue, German fhlen........... vivid, give
.......... we, away
........... yard, cue\\, union\\
............ (in transcriptions of foreign words only) indicates that during
articulation of the sound represented by the preceding
character the tip of the tongue has substantially the position it
has for the articulation of the first sound ofyard,as in French
digne\\
......... youth, union, cue, few
......... curable
........... zone, raise
......... with nothing between, as in vision, azure\()\(actually,
this is a single sound, not two); with a stress mark between,two sounds as in rosehill\\
............ mark preceding a syllable with primary (strongest) stress:
\\
............ mark preceding a syllable with secondary (next-strongest)
stress:\\
( ) indicate that what is symbolized between is present in some
utterances but not in others: factory\()\
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Guidelines Regarding Pronunciation
Pronunciation
For many words in Websters Third New International Dictionary,copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster (Websters
Third),more than one pronunciation is offered. In this classroom pronouncer guide, the chief pronunciation for aword is most often the first pronunciation given in this dictionary. Occasionally, however, the word panel haschosen to assign the dictionarys second or third pronunciation as the chief pronunciation. This decision has been
made whenever the panel has reason to think that a certain pronunciation has become the most prevalent one sincethis dictionary was first published.
Many of the variations in pronunciation listed in Websters Thirdare included in this publication as alternatepronunciations and are listed in square brackets under the chief pronunciation. These alternate pronunciations
are all the variants in the dictionarys pronunciation data that differ phonemically from the chief pronunciation.Minor phonetic variations that are described in the dictionary pages are not included here, however, such as
pronunciations that differ only in the level of stress on given syllables. In addition, this publication has notincluded the voluminous treatment of r-dropping and vowel variations before /r/ such as those that are found in
certain geographical dialects of American English. Experience has shown that this information about nuances ofphonetic variation in pronunciation can be the cause for confusion for spellers and pronouncers alike.
Nevertheless, every pronunciation in Websters Thirdthat can offer any clues about spelling is listed as analternate pronunciation herein. The phrase no alternate pronunciationsmeans simply that, while the dictionaryentry may or may not contain further details about phonetic differences in different dialects, the word in question
has no other pronunciations that differ phonemically from the chief pronunciation that is provided.
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Tips for Conducting Your Classroom Spelling Bee
Help your students prepare by:
giving your students the grade-specific 100-word study list from the log-in section of spellingbee.com, and
providing the full 2016 School Spelling Bee Study List to your students if they seek a challenge.
Familiarize yourself with the2016 Classroom Pronouncer Guide, in which:
words 1-225 were selected from the 2016 School Spelling Bee Study List,
words 226-250 were selected from Websters Third New International Dictionary,copyright 2002, Merriam-
Webster,
Decide at what point in the Classroom Pronouncer Guideto begin your bee. We recommend that you:
begin Grade 1 classroom spelling bees with word 1(page 11),
begin Grade 2classroom spelling bees with word 26(page 15),
begin Grade 3classroom spelling bees with word 51(page 18),
begin Grade 4classroom spelling bees with word 76 (page 22),
begin Grade 5classroom spelling bees with word 101(page 25), begin Grade 6classroom spelling bees with word 126(page 28),
begin Grade 7classroom spelling bees with word 151(page 31), and
begin Grade 8classroom spelling bees with word 176(page 34).
As pronouncer, be sure to:
review the 2016 Classroom Pronouncer Guideprior to your bee, and
refer to the Merriam-Webster Pronunciation Symbols on page 2 of the 2016 Classroom Pronouncer Guideif you
need assistance interpreting diacritical markings.
As judge, keep in mind that:
You may consult ourRules for Local Spelling Bees (on page 5 of the 2016 Classroom Pronouncer Guide) if you
need rules (pay special attention to Rule 10 for instruction regarding end-of-bee procedure) and
You may wish to have a copy of Websters Third New International Dictionary,copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster,
available for reference. If you do not have a copy of Websters Third,the preferred alternative isMerriam-Websters
Collegiate Dictionary, eleventh edition, copyright 2003, Merriam-Webster.
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Rules for Local Spelling Bees
Preface
We encourage spellers, parents, teachers, and spelling bee officials to read these rules prior to any spelling bee.
These rules are guidelines designed to assist spelling bee officials and spellers at the local level. Spellers should
check with their local spelling bee officials for the rules in effect in their area. Spelling bee officials include the
pronouncer, judges, coordinator and sponsor.
While local spelling bee officials have the prerogative to amend Rules 2 through 11, amendments particularly any
amendments to the end-of-bee procedure should be undertaken only with careful consideration of the various
outcomes that may result from the amendments.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee has no authority over the conduct of local spelling bees (namely, spelling bees
other than the Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C.). Consequently, the national office will not
render judgments relating to the conduct of local spelling bees. Individuals bearing complaints about the conduct of
local spelling bees should register their concerns with local spelling bee officials. DECISIONS OF LOCAL
SPELLING BEE OFFICIALS ARE FINAL.
TheseRules for Local Spelling Beesare not the rules in effect at the Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington,
DC. When a local spelling bee official says, We use the national rules, he or she is probably indicating that the
Rules for Local Spelling Beesare in effect.The Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C. operates under a significantly different set of rules called
the Contest Rules of the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee. These rules contain provisions that are specific to
unique conditions at the event near Washington, D.C. Their successful implementation at the local level is
considered impossible and therefore is not recommended.
Rules
1. Eligibility:A speller qualifying for the 2016
Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C.
must meet these requirements:
(1) The speller must not have won a Scripps
National Spelling Bee championship near
Washington, D.C.
(2) The speller must attend a school that is
officially enrolled with the Scripps National
Spelling Bee.
(3) The speller must not have passed beyond the
eighth grade on or before February 1, 2016.
(4) The speller must not have repeated any grade
for the purpose of extending spelling bee
eligibility. If the speller has repeated any grade,
the speller must notify the Scripps NationalSpelling Bee of the circumstances of grade
repetition by March 31, 2016; and the Scripps
National Spelling Bee will, at its sole discretion,
determine the spellers eligibility status on or
before April 30, 2016.
(5) The spelleror the spellers parent, legal
guardian, or school official acting on the
spellers behalfmust not have declared to
another entity an academic classification higher
than eighth grade for any purpose, including high
school graduation equivalency or proficiency
examinations and/or examinations such as the
PSAT, SAT, or ACT.
(6) The speller must not have earned the legal
equivalent of a high school diploma.
(7) The speller must not have completed or have
been enrolled in more than six high school-level
courses or two college-level courses on or before
April 30, 2016.
(8) The speller must not eschew normal school
activity to study for spelling bees. The ScrippsNational Spelling Bee defines normal school
activity as adherence to at least four courses of
study other than language arts, spelling, Latin,
Greek, vocabulary, and etymology for at least
four hours per weekday for 34 of the 38 weeks
between August 25, 2015, and May 16, 2016.
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(9) The speller must not have reached his/her
15thbirthday on or before August 31, 2015.
(10) The speller must have been declared a
champion of a final local spelling bee taking
place on or after February 1, 2016, or be a
spelling champion of a school whose application
for participation in the Scripps National Spelling
Bees school self-sponsorship program has
received final approval by the Scripps National
Spelling Bee.
(11) Once having been disqualified at any level
of a sponsors spelling bee program between
June 2015 and April 2016, the speller remains
disqualified for the 2016 Scripps National
Spelling Bee and may not seek advancement in
the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee program
through another sponsor and/or enrollment in
another school.
(12) The speller, upon qualifying for the 2016
Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington,
D.C., must submit a completed Champion Bio
Form, a Certification of Eligibility Form, a
signed Appearance Consent and Release Form
and a photo to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The speller will notify the Bee at least 24
hours prior to the first day of competition in the
2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee in
Washington, D.C. if any of the statements
made on the Certification of Eligibility Form are
no longer true or require updating. The spellers
sponsor will provide access to the necessaryforms.
(13) The speller must not have any first-, second-
or third-degree relatives (i.e. sibling, parent,
grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, half-
sibling, first cousin or great grandparent) who
are current employees of The E.W. Scripps
Company.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee may disqualify
prior to or during competition any speller who is not
in compliance with any of its eligibility requirements;
and it may at any time between the conclusion ofthe 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee and April 30,
2017 require any speller who is found to have not
been in compliance with any of the eligibility
requirements to forfeit the prizes, rank, and other
benefits accorded to the speller as a result of
participation in the 2016 Scripps National Spelling
Bee.
2. Format:The spelling bee is conducted in rounds.
Each speller remaining in the spelling bee at the start
of a round spells one word or answers one vocabulary
question in each round except in the case of a
written, multiple choice, or online test. The spelling
bee may be conducted orally or in writing or in a
manner that is a combination of the two; however, if
the spelling bee officials specify an oral format, the
speller may not demand a written format except
under the conditions of Rule 4.
3. Word list:Local spelling bee officials are
responsible for selecting the word lists for use at each
local spelling bee. Many local spelling bee officials
use word lists generated by the Scripps National
Spelling Bee. These lists include many words that
appear in the current edition of Spell It!as well as
some end-of-bee words. All words on Scripps
National Spelling Bee word lists are entries in
Websters Third New International Dictionaryand its
addenda section, copyright 2002, Merriam-Webster,the official dictionary of the Scripps National
Spelling Bee.
4. Special needs:Spelling bee officials will strive to
provide accommodation for spellers who have
physical challenges. All requests for spelling bee
officials to accommodate special needs involving
sight, hearing, speech, or movement should be
directed to spelling bee officials well in advance of
the spelling bee date. The judges have discretionary
power to amend oral and/or written spelling
requirements on a case-by-case basis for spellers with
diagnosed medical conditions involving sight,hearing, speech, or movement.
5. Pronouncers role:The pronouncer strives to
pronounce words according to the diacritical
markings in Scripps National Spelling Bee word lists.
In Oral Spelling Rounds:
Homonyms: If a word has one or more
homonyms, the pronouncer indicates which word
is to be spelled by defining the word.
Spellers requests:The pronouncer responds tothe spellers requests for a definition, sentence,
part of speech, language(s) of origin, and
alternate pronunciation(s). When presented with
requests for alternate pronunciations, the
pronouncer or an aide to the pronouncer checks
for alternate pronunciations in either Websters
Third New International Dictionaryand its
addenda section, copyright 2002, Merriam-
Webster orMerriam-Websters Collegiate
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Dictionary, eleventh edition. The pronouncer
does not entertain root word questions, requests
for alternate definitions, or requests for markedly
slower pronunciation.
Pronouncers sense of helpfulness: The
pronouncer may offer word information
without the speller having requested the
informationif the pronouncer senses that the
information is helpful and the information is
presented in the entry for the word in a 2016
Scripps National Spelling Bee word list.
In Oral Vocabulary Rounds:
Procedure: The pronouncer reads aloud the
vocabulary question and both options (A) and
(B), but does not indicate which is correct.
Homonyms: If a word has one or more
homonyms, the pronouncer indicates which wordis in question by spelling the word aloud.
Spellers requests:The pronouncer responds tothe spellers requests for the question and/or
answer options to be repeated. The pronouncer
may also provide the spelling of the word in
question.
6. Judges role:The judges uphold the rules and
determine whether or not words are spelled correctly
or vocabulary items are answered correctly. They
also render final decisions on appeals in accordance
with Rule 11. They are in complete control of thecompetition and their decision is final on all
questions.
Interaction with the speller: Because seeing the
spellers lip movements may be critical in
detecting misunderstandings or misspellings, the
judges encourage spellers to face them when
pronouncing and spelling the word.
Notice of rules: The judges ensure that all
spellers and audience members are given an
opportunity to receive a complete copy of the
rules prior to the start of the spelling bee.
Misunderstandings: The judges participate in the
exchange of information between the speller and
pronouncer if they feel that clarification is
needed. Also, the judges listen carefully to the
spellers pronunciation of the word; and, if they
sense that the speller has misunderstood the
word, the judges work with the speller and
pronouncer until they are satisfied that
reasonable attempts have been made to assist the
speller in understanding the word. While the
judges are responsible for attempting to detect a
spellers misunderstanding, it is sometimes
impossible to detect a misunderstanding until an
error has been made. The judges are not
responsible for the spellers misunderstanding.
Pronouncer errors: The judges compare the
pronouncers pronunciation with the diacritical
markings in the word list. If the judges feel that
the pronouncers pronunciation does not match
the pronunciation specified in the diacritical
markings, the judges direct the pronouncer to
correct the error as soon as it is detected.
Disqualifications for reasons other than error:
The judges will disqualify a speller (1) who
refuses a request to start spelling or to provide an
answer to a vocabulary question; (2) who does
not approach the microphone when it is time toreceive the word or question; (3) who does not
comply with the eligibility requirements; (4) who
engages in unsportsmanlike conduct; (5) who, in
the process of retracing a spelling, alters the
letters or sequence of letters from those first
uttered; (6) who, in the process of spelling, utters
unintelligible or nonsense sounds; or (7) who, in
the process of providing an answer in an oral
vocabulary round, provides a blend of correct
and incorrect information (For example: If in
answering the question, What is porridge made
from?
A. fur, or B. grain, the speller provides as ananswer either A. grain or B. fur.).
Speller activities that do not merit
disqualification: The judges may not disqualify a
speller (1) for failing to pronounce the word
either before or after spelling it, (2) for asking a
question, or (3) for noting or failing to note the
capitalization of a word, the presence of a
diacritical mark, the presence of a hyphen or
other form of punctuation, or spacing between
words in an open compound.
7. Spellers role:In a spelling round, the spellermakes an effort to face the judges and pronounce the
word for the judges before spelling it and after
spelling it. The speller while facing the judgesmakes
an effort to utter each letter distinctly and with
sufficient volume to be understood by the judges. The
speller may ask the pronouncer to say the word again,
define it, use it in a sentence, provide the part of
speech, provide the language(s) of origin, and/or
provide an alternate pronunciation or pronunciations.
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Misunderstandings: The speller is responsible for
any misunderstanding of the word unless (1) the
pronouncer never provided a correct
pronunciation; (2) the pronouncer provided
incorrect information regarding the definition,
part of speech, or language of origin; or (3) the
speller correctly spelled a homonym of the word
and the pronouncer failed to either offer a
definition or distinguish the homonyms.
In an oral vocabulary round, a speller may answer the
question by providing (1) the letter associated with
the chosen answer, (2) the chosen answer or (3) both.
If the correct answer is identified by (1) associated
letter alone or(2) by answer alone or (3) by both
correct letter and correct answer, the speller is
correct.
For example: If the speller is offered the question,
What is porridge made from? A. fur, or B. grain,each of the following methods of answering is
correct: B, grain, or B. grain.
8. Correction of a misspelling:The pronouncer and
judges will not ask the speller to correct another
spellers misspelling, even in end-of-bee
circumstances.
9.Errors:Upon providing an incorrect spelling of aword or an incorrect answer to a vocabulary question,
the speller immediately drops out of the competition,
except as provided in Rule 10.
10. End-of-bee procedure:
If all spellers in a round misspell or answer
vocabulary questions incorrectly: If none of the
spellers remaining in the spelling bee at the start
of a round spells a word correctly or answers a
vocabulary question correctly during that round,
all remain in the competition and a new spelling
round begins.
Ties: All spellers eliminated in the same round
are tied for the same place. After the champion
has been determined, spelling bee officials mayopt to conduct tiebreakers (of their own design)
if tiebreakers are necessary for the awarding of
prizes or the determination of qualifying spellers
for the next level of competition.
If only one speller in a round spells correctly or
answers a vocabulary question correctly:
If only one speller spells correctly in a round, a
new one-word spelling round begins and the
speller is given an opportunity to spell a word on
the list (anticipated championship word). If the
speller succeeds in correctly spelling the
anticipated championship word in this one-word
round, the speller is declared the champion.
Example: In Round 12 there are four spellers.Spellers 6 and 21 misspell. Speller 30 spellscorrectly. Speller 42 misspells. So, Speller 30 is the
only speller in the round to spell correctly. Speller30 begins Round 13a one-word roundand isoffered the anticipated championship word. Speller30 correctly spells the anticipated championship
word and is declared champion.
Example: Two spellers spell in Round 10. Speller14 misspells. Speller 25 spells correctly. Speller 25
begins Round 11a one-word roundand isoffered the anticipated championship word. Speller25 correctly spells the anticipated championshipword and is declared champion.
Example: Two spellers spell in Round 16. Speller 3spells correctly. Speller 9 misspells. Speller 3
begins Round 17a one-word roundand is
offered the anticipated championship word. Speller3 correctly spells the anticipated championship
word and is declared champion.
VERY IMPORTANT:If a speller misspells the
anticipated championship word in a one-word
round: A newspelling round begins with ALL
the spellers who participated in the previous
round. These spellers spell in their original order.
Example: In Round 8 there are three spellers.Speller 12 spells correctly and Spellers 23 and 37
misspell. Round 9a one-word roundbegins,and Speller 12 is offered the anticipatedchampionship word. Speller 12 misspells theanticipated championship word. Round 10 begins
and includes Spellers 12, 23, and 37. The rulesprescribe that spellers 12, 23, and 37 spell in theiroriginal order; so Speller 12 gets the next word onthe list even though Speller 12 misspelled the
previous word on the list. Round 10 is not complete
until all three spellers have spelled.
Tip: Spelling bee officials may find it helpful to
designate a record keeper or judge to track the
progress of spellers throughout the rounds. Therecord keepers information will be helpful in
preventing end-of-bee confusion.
11. Appeals:The spellers parent(s), legal guardian,or teacher may appeal to the judges for the spellers
reinstatement provided that the appeal is in
compliance with the appeal protocol. The judges
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render a final decision on the appeal in accordance
with the reinstatement protocol.
Appeal protocol
A written appeal must be hand delivered to the
designated official (usually the spelling bee
coordinator/director). The deadline for delivering
an appeal is before the speller affected would
have received his/her next word had he/she
stayed in the spelling bee; however, to minimize
disruptions to the spelling bee, every effort
should be made to deliver an appeal by the end
of the round in which the speller was eliminated.
When five or fewer spellers remain, the written
appeal requirement is suspended, and an oral
appeal must be made before the speller would
have received his/her next word had he/she
stayed in the spelling bee. A written appeal must
provide the spellers name, the word in question,
and the reason the speller should be reinstated.
While the competition is in session, individuals
who have filed appeals may not directly
approach the judges unless explicit permission to
approach the judges has been given. The judges
will contact the speller if they decide to reinstate
the speller. To minimize disruption to the pace of
the spelling bee and the concentration of the
spellers, the judges are under no obligation to
stop the spelling bee in order to discuss with the
spellers parent(s), legal guardian, or teacher a
denied appeal. The judges decisions are final
and are subject neither to review nor to reversalby the Scripps National Spelling Bees
headquarters office.
Reinstatement protocol
Pronouncer mispronunciation: An appeal
claiming that a spellers elimination from the
spelling bee was due to pronunciation error
should be denied unless there is agreement that
the pronouncer neveroffered a correct
pronunciation.
Alternate pronunciations: An appeal claimingthat the pronouncer did not offer alternate
pronunciations should be denied unless it is
determined that the speller requested alternate
pronunciations andthe pronouncer did not
accommodate the spellers request for alternate
pronunciations andit appears that the spellers
spelling almost matches the correct spelling.
Spellers misunderstanding: An appeal claiming
that the spellers elimination from the spelling
bee was due to the spellers not understanding
the word [its pronunciation(s) and/or other
information about the word] should be denied. It
is the spellers responsibility to understand the
word.
Speller offered correct spelling for a word in this
guide:An appeal claiming that the speller
correctly spelled the word should be denied
unless an audio recording of the bees
proceedings or bee officials recollections clearly
indicate that the word was indeed spelled
correctly.
Exception: If the spellers spelling is listed inWebsters Third New International Dictionaryand
its addenda section, Merriam-Webster, copyright2002, the speller should be reinstated if all of the
following three criteria are met: (1) Thepronunciations of the words are identical, (2) the
definitions of the words are identical, and (3) thewords are clearly identified as being standardvariants of each other. Spellings at other locationshaving temporal labels (such as archaic, obsolete),
stylistic labels (such as substand, nonstand), orregional labels (such asNorth, Midland, Irish)which differ from main entry spellings not havingthese status labels will not be accepted as correct.
Speller offered correct spelling, as indicated in a
dictionary other than Websters Third:An appeal
claiming that the speller spelled the word
correctly according to a dictionary other than
Websters Third New International Dictionary
and its addenda section, copyright 2002,
Merriam-Webster, should be denied.
Homonym in a spelling round: An appeal
claiming that the spellers elimination was unfair
because the spellers word is a homonym should
be denied unless the pronouncer failed to define
the word andthe speller correctly spelled a
homonym of the word.
Homonym in an oral vocabulary round: An
appeal claiming that the spellers elimination
was unfair because the spellers word is ahomonym should be denied unless the
pronouncer failed to spell the word andthe
speller identified an answer matching the
definition of a homonym of the word.
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Incorrect or unsolicited information: An appeal
claiming that the spellers elimination was unfair
because the pronouncer offered incorrect or
unsolicited information about the word should be
denied unless it is determined that the
pronouncer indeed gave factually incorrect
information andit appears that the spellers
spelling would have been correct if not for the
incorrect or unsolicited information provided by
the pronouncer.
Bee officials failed to correct a
misunderstanding: An appeal claiming that the
speller misspelled or incorrectly answered
because the judges and/or pronouncer failed to
correct the spellers mispronunciation of the
word should be denied. It is sometimes
impossible to detect a spellers mispronunciation
or misunderstanding, and ultimately it is the
responsibility of the speller to understand and
correctly pronounce the word.
Disqualification request: An appeal seeking to
dislodge another speller from the spelling bee
should be denied.
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Words 1225 are Scripps National Spelling Bee School Level Study Words.
This is the recommended starting point for Grade 1 Classroom Spelling Bees.
There is no rule stating that you must proceed word-for-word from this list.
You may skip a word if you sense that the word may present a problem at your bee.
If a word has a homonym or near homonym, the words homonym status is probably noted
at the words entry in this guide. We encourage you to include these words in your bee,
provided you indicate the words homonym or near homonym status to the speller.
If you think a word is a homonym and yet a homonym is not listed, please check
Websters Third New International Dictionaryfor further information or skip the word.
It is possible that we did not note the fact that the word is a homonym.
1. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
bat
noun [Has homonym: batt.]
a usually wooden piece of sports equipment used to hit a ball.
Ever since Caiden got abatand a glove for his sixth birthday,
he has dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player.
2. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words partof speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
pull
verb [Could be confused withpool.]
to hold onto something and move it toward yourself or towardthe direction you are going.
Candace loaded her red wagon full of toys and began to pullit
down the sidewalk.
3. five
adjective
being one more than four.
Mrs. Levi gave gold stickers to thefivestudents who got perfect
scores on the test.
4. melt
verb
to change from a solid to a liquid because of heat.
It was so hot outside that Britney couldn't eat much of her snow
cone before it started tomelt.
5. navy
noun
a dark blue with gray and purple tones.
The sailor costume for Mackenzie's tap dance recital is mostly
navywith white stripes.
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6. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
sock
noun [Has homonym: Sauk.]
a piece of clothing that covers the foot and is worn inside a
shoe.
Dad searched the laundry room for the missingsockfor 20minutes before he gave up and wore a mismatched pair.
7. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
tiger
noun [Could be confused with taiga.]
a large, wild cat that lives in Asia and usually has orange fur
with black stripes.
During his trip to the zoo, Mitch was sad to learn that the
world'stigerpopulation is at an all-time low, with as few as
3,200 living in the wild.
8. jelly
noun
a soft food made by boiling sugar and fruit juice.
Dante learned to make his own peanut butter andjelly
sandwiches when he was in kindergarten.
9. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
tuba
noun [Has near-homonym: tuber.]
a large, low-pitched brass musical instrument.
Tyler playstubain the marching band, even though theinstrument seems to be almost as big as he is.
10. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
candy
noun [Has homonym: geographical entry Kandy.]
a sweet food made with sugar and often flavoring (such as
chocolate) and filling.
After the tour of the jelly bean factory, each student got to select
one piece ofcandyto take home.
11. good
adjective
correct, proper or right.
The museum tour guide was impressed by thegoodbehavior of
Mrs. Garcia's class during their field trip.
12. dress
verb
to put clothes on.
In the winter it is wise todressin warm layers of clothing.
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13. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
blue
adjective [Has obsolete variant: blew. Has homonyms: blew
and bleu.]
having the color of the clear sky or the deep sea.
After he drew a detailed pirate ship, Zach grabbed abluecrayon to color in the ocean.
14. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
frame
noun [Could be confused withflame.]
an open structure used for holding and supporting something.
Sarina placed the picture of her best friends in the frameand
then hung it on her bedroom wall.
15. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words partof speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
erase
verb [Could be confused with araise.]
to remove written letters or figures by rubbing or scraping.
Ms. Taylor asked for a volunteer to eraseall the writing from
the whiteboard at the end of class.
16. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech anddefinition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
soup
noun [Has homonyms: soop, soup.]
a liquid food made with broth that often contains pieces of meat,fish, pasta or vegetables.
When Lena is feeling sick, vegetable noodlesoupalways makes
her feel better.
17. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
fuzzy
adjective [Has near-homonym:fussy.]
looking furry, soft or fluffy.
Marcel reached out to pet thefuzzybunny his mom was
holding.
18. cheese
noun
the curd of milk that has been pressed and ripened for use as a
food.
Nico's favorite type of pizza has a simple tomato sauce and four
types ofcheese.
19. lucky
adjective
having good fortune.
Before the spelling bee, Natalie made sure her luckycoin was
in her pocket.
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20. hidden
adjective
out of sight : concealed.
Betty could not believe her little brother had found the secret
location of herhiddendiary.
21. copycat
nouna person who imitates or adopts another person's ideas, style or
behavior.
When Jeannie and Miranda both wore the same dress to prom,
they each accused the other of being acopycat.
22. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
sailor
noun [Has homonym: sailer.]
a person who works on the crew of a boat or ship.
Jaime could not decide whether to become asailoron the deep
blue sea or a soldier in the army.
23. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
trace
verb [Could be confused with Spanish word tres.]
to copy something (such as a drawing) by putting a see-through
piece of paper over it and following the lines.
Tiffany is teaching herself to draw, and likes to bring thin paper
to the library andtracecomics onto it.
24. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
grandma
noun [Could be confused with grama/gramma, grammar.]
the female parent of either of your parents.
Taye and Grace argued over whosegrandmamakes the best
pancakes.
25. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
which
adjective [Has homonym: witch.]
being what one or ones out of a group.Maya had a hard time deciding whichoutfit to wear for the first
day of school.
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This is the recommended starting point for Grade 2 Classroom Spelling Bees.
There is no rule stating that you must proceed word-for-word from this list.
You may skip a word if you sense that the word may present a problem at your bee.
26. solo
nouna piece of music played or sung by a single person.
Han was honored to be selected to sing thesoloin his choir's
version of "Cheerleader."
27. regular
adjective
not showing change in occurrence, practice or habit.
Aregularschool day for Andre begins at six in the morning
when he hits the snooze button on his alarm and falls back
asleep.
28. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech anddefinition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
pamper
verb [Has homonym:pampre.]
to treat with a lot of care and attention.
Simone loves topamperher puppy, Oliver, and gives him a
treat every time they go for a walk.
29. April
noun
the fourth month of the year.
Afternoon rain showers often happen during the month ofApril.
30. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words partof speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
satin
noun [Could be confused with sateen/satine.]
a smooth fabric with a shiny front and dull back.
For her birthday, Alondra gave her mother a pink robe made of
satin.
31. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
dozen
noun [Has near-homonym: doesn't.]
a group of 12.
Carl took adozenfreshly baked cookies to his next-door
neighbor.
32. brunch
noun
a meal served usually in the late morning.
Mrs. Salazar fixed a special French toastbrunchlate Sundaymorning to celebrate Jose's good report card.
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33. jersey
noun
a soft knitted fabric used for making clothing.
Becky prefersjerseydresses for traveling, because she can pack
them tightly and they don't wrinkle too much.
34. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Next, provide the words partof speech and definition. Next, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
truth
noun [Could be confused with truce.]
the real state of things : fact.
Mom asked Bradley to please tell her thetruthabout how the
lamp ended up broken.
35. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
attic
noun [Has near-homonym addict.]
a room or storage space just below the roof of a building.
When the weather turned colder, Micah climbed the ladder to
theatticto get his winter coat out of storage.
36. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
cream
noun [Could be confused with crme, which shares a different
definition and one pronunciation.]
the thick part of milk that contains butterfat.
Dad likescreamand sugar in his coffee, but Mom prefers to
drink hers plain.
37. zilch
noun
nothing.
Cam searched his pockets for quarters for the vending machine
and came up withzilch.
38. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
hallway
noun [Could be confused with haulaway.]
the area inside the entrance of a building.
Valentina and Emily always meet in the schoolhallwaybetweenclasses and chat until the next bell rings.
39. connect
verb
to join, fasten or link (two or more) things together.
Leon made sure toconnectthe hose tightly to the faucet to
prevent leaking.
40. future
noun
time that is to come.
Zoe asked her dad if he thought there would be flying cars in the
future.
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41. motto
noun
a short phrase or sentence that expresses a guiding principle for
a person or group.
Julies personalmottois Actions speak louder than words.
42. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words partof speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
hinge
noun [Could be confused with henge.]
a jointed piece on which a swinging part (like a door or a lid)
turns.
Thehingestopped creaking after Tony oiled it.
43. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
newbie
noun [Could be confused withNewfie.]
a person who has recently started a particular activity: abeginner.
Frankie, anewbieat playing basketball, asked his coach a lot of
good questions.
44. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
tractor
noun [Could be confused with tracker, attractor/attracter.]
a usually four-wheeled vehicle used mainly on farms to pull or
drive equipment.
Kenny plowed the field using histractor.
45. The speller should not be disqualified based upon noting or failing to note punctuation or spacing within the following
word. The speller should be judged based upon uttering the correct sequence of letters in the correct order.
Ping-Pong
trademark
a game played on a table with wooden paddles and a small
plastic ball: table tennis.
Will practicesPing-Pongin his free time and dreams of
someday playing in the Olympics.
46. teacher
noun
a person who helps another learn a subject or a skill.Felix's artteacherexplained how to cut the block of clay using
a wire tool.
47. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
canopy
noun [Has homonym: canap.]
a covering usually for shelter or protection.
After the long walk through the festival, Malik rested from the
heat under the large stripedcanopy.
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48. trademark
noun
a name or symbol that is used to identify a maker's products and t
legally only be used by its owner.
The word escalator was originally atrademarkbut has since
become a generic word.
49. surefire
adjective
certain to succeed : dependable.
A surprise hug is asurefireway to make Grandpa smile.
50. caramel
noun
a light brown color.
Ida chose to paint her bedroomcaramelwith white borders,
because the color reminded her of coffee with cream.
This is the recommended starting point for Grade 3 Classroom Spelling Bees.There is no rule stating that you must proceed word-for-word from this list.
You may skip a word if you sense that the word may present a problem at your bee.
51. upshot
noun
outcome.
The soccer teams practice schedule was rigorous, but the
upshotwas a trophy in the tournament.
52. garlic
noun [Has archaic variant not listed in Webster's Third:
garlicke.]
the bulb of a plant related to the onion that has a strong smelland taste, is composed of smaller bulbs called cloves, and is
used in cooking.
Freya added an extra clove ofgarlicand some crushed red
peppers to the spaghetti sauce.
53. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
bawl
verb [Has homonym: ball. Has near-homonyms: boll, bowl.]
cry out loudly and without restraint : yell.
The rancher knows from experience that his calves willbawlif a
rustler enters the pen.
54. glimmer
noun
a small amount or degree : a faint trace.
When the doctor said he would remove her cast a week early,
Josie felt aglimmerof hope that she might play in the
championship game after all.
55. native
adjective
born in a particular place or country.
Although she lives in Dallas, McKenna is anativeNew Yorker.
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56. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
dearly
adverb [Has near-homonym: dearie.]
with affection : fondly.
Margot loved her cat Fuzzballdearly, but she wished hewouldn't shed all over her favorite black sweater.
57. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
polar
adjective [Has homonym:poler.]
of, relating to or near the north pole or the south pole.
One of Ben's goals is to someday go on apolarjourney to
Antarctica to see Emperor penguins in their natural habitat.
58. field
noun
an area, category or division of work or study.
After extensive reading and a trip to Greece, Hugo considered
himself an expert in thefieldof Greek mythology.
59. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
kiwi
noun [Could be confused with iiwi.]
a bird from New Zealand that cannot fly and that has weak
wings and a long bill.
An unusual feature of thekiwiis that its nostrils are located at
the tip rather than at the base of its long bill.
60. gusto
noun
enthusiastic enjoyment or delight.
Vanya's favorite food is pizza, which she eats withgusto
whenever she gets the chance.
61. warning
noun
a notice, bulletin or signal that serves to caution of the approach
of danger.
When Rosie got to the beach, she was surprised to see a
warningabout high surf posted near the edge of the water.
62. layover
noun
a temporary stop in a journey.
Christina had a two-hour layoverbefore her flight to London.
63. hefty
adjective
impressively large.
Little Jolene served herself aheftyportion of mashed potatoes.
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64. The speller should not be disqualified based upon noting or failing to note punctuation or spacing within the following
word. The speller should be judged based upon uttering the correct sequence of letters in the correct order.
o'clock
adverb [Alternate pronunciation found in Webster's
Collegiate.]
according to the clock.
Class starts at eighto'clocksharp.
65. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
random
adjective [Has homonym: randem.]
lacking or seeming to lack a regular plan, purpose or pattern.
Lara's shelves were neatly organized, except the one that held a
randomassortment of knickknacks and some origami animals
she made in art class.
66. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words partof speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
around
adverb [Has obsolete variant not listed in Webster's Third:
arownd. Could be confused with errand.]
approximately, about.
Matilda goes to school ataroundthe same time every day.
67. domino
noun
a flat rectangular block the face of which is divided into two
equal parts that are blank or bear from one to six dots, and thatis used to play a game.
As a prank, Grandpa hid adominobefore asking Billy if hedlike to play.
68. tirade
noun
a long speech marked by harsh language : rant.
The grumpy woman screamed atiradeof protest whenever
children made joyful noises outside her window.
69. jackpot
noun
an unexpected success or reward.
Trevor hit thejackpotat the library when he found two new
books by his favorite author.
70. beagle
noun
a small hunting dog with short legs and smooth fur that is often
black, brown and white.
Vivienne took Snoopy, her petbeagle, for a quick walk before
lunch.
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71. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
eyebrow
noun [Has near-homonym highbrow.]
the arch or ridge over the eye, or the covering of hair growing
on it.
Chester was jealous of Winnie's ability to raise one eyebrowata time.
72. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
dough
noun [Has homonyms: d'oh/doh, doe. Has differently
pronounced dialectical variants not listed in Webster's
Third: dow, doff, duff.]
a mixture of flour and other ingredients that is kneaded or rolled
and then baked.
Simon kneaded thedoughon the counter before placing it in acovered bowl to rise.
73. wrinkle
noun [Has obsolete variant not listed in Webster's Third:
wrincle.]
a slight fold formed on a surface of a smooth substance : crease.
Angus irons all his clothes, but when he put on his green shirt
this morning there was still a wrinkleon the sleeve.
74. The following word has two or more correct spellings. Either one of the two spellings listed below should be accepted as
correct; the speller only needs to provide one correct spelling.
Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
impostor or
imposter
noun [Could be confused with imposture. Has obsolete variant
not in Webster's Third: impostour.]
a person who tricks others by pretending to be someone else.
In the fairy tale, the ball was disrupted when one of the visiting
princes was revealed to be an impostorwith no royal
connections.
75. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
tomorrow
adverb [Could be confused with synonymous cross-referencemorrow.]
on or for the day after today.
Patrice intends to start reading her new booktomorrow.
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This is the recommended starting point for Grade 4 Classroom Spelling Bees.
There is no rule stating that you must proceed word-for-word from this list.
You may skip a word if you sense that the word may present a problem at your bee.
76. galaxy
noun
one of billions of large systems of stars that make up the
universe.
Our solar system is in thegalaxyknown as the Milky Way.
77. seldom
adverb
not often.
The math teacher is very patient,seldomdisplaying any signs of
frustration.
78. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
waist
noun [Has homonym: waste. Has obsolete variants not in
Webster's Third: waste, wast.]
the part of the body between the chest and hips.
Jane wanted to grow her hair so long that it would hang past
her waist.
79. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
nimble
adjective [Has near-homonym: nibble.]
marked by quick light movement : agile.
Jack'snimblefingers moved quickly up and down the piano as
he practiced his scales.
80. aloha
noun
love, affection, kindness often used to express greeting or
farewell.
The first thing Samuel does when he gets home from school is
sayalohato his baby sister.
81. mineral
noun [Has obsolete variant not listed in Webster's Third:
minerall.]
a substance (such as diamond, gold or quartz) that is naturallyformed and is not of plant or animal origin.
Each time her class visits the natural history museum, Zelda
spends as much time as she can looking at the beautiful crystals
in themineralcollection.
82. snippet
noun
a small part, piece or thing; specifically : a brief quotable
passage.
Lisa cut asnippetfrom the news article to include in her
scrapbook.
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83. valiant
adjective [Has obsolete variant not in Webster's Third:
valiaunt.]
showing courage : brave
The monument was dedicated to the memory of the valiant
warrior.
84. medley
noun
a performance blending together a series of songs or other
musical pieces.
The symphony orchestra performed amedleyof popular holiday
songs.
85. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
truce
noun [Could be confused with truth.]
an agreement between opponents to stop fighting for a period of
time.
After months of fighting, the countries finally agreed to atruce.
86. mutiny
noun
refusal to obey authority or orders.
Captain Bligh, unable to suppress themutiny, was set adrift in
a rowboat.
87. trinket
noun
a small ornament (as a jewel or ring).
Katie examined thetrinketfrom the gumball machine.
88. nonfiction
noun
writing that is about facts or real events (rather than novels or
stories).
A history buff, Theo spends most of his library time in the
nonfictionsection.
89. difficult
adjective
hard to do : not easy.
Milo thought the mostdifficultchore on his list was mowing the
lawn.
90. several
adjective [Has obsolete variant not in Webster's Third:severall.]
being more than two in number but not very many.
Tito spentseveralweeks working on his research paper.
91. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
grumbling
verb [Could be confused with grumblyor crumbling.]
complaining in a low voice.
The class startedgrumblingwhen Mrs. Griffin announced a
pop quiz.
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92. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
magma
noun [Could be confused with magna.]
hot liquid rock below the earth's surface.
Many geothermal hot spots havemagmaunderneath them.
93. everglades
plural noun
swampy grasslands at least seasonally covered by slowlymoving water.
One of Queenie's favorite shows features a man who wrestles
with alligators in what looks like everglades.
94. blossom
noun
the usually colorful flower of a seed plant.
Harriet plucked ablossomfrom the crabapple tree in her
backyard and tucked it behind her ear.
95. masterpiece
noun
a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement ; specifically : a
work that marks the high point of a person's creativity.
Although she was proud of all of her charcoal sketches, Emme
felt that the self-portrait was hermasterpiece.
96. atrium
noun
a square hall from which other rooms open and which is often
used as a sitting room.
Douglas bought a new armchair and two large ferns to decorate
hisatrium.
97. kangaroo
noun
a marsupial from Australia that moves by hopping on its strong
rear legs.
A redkangaroousually lives with a migrating group called a
mob.
98. announcer
noun
a person who introduces television or radio programs and gives
information.
The game show contestant waited nervously for theannouncerto introduce her.
99. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
cymbals
plural noun [Has homonym: symbols.]
large brass plates that make a clashing sound when struck
together or hit with a drumstick.
The villain timed his shot to coincide with the clash of the
cymbals.
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100. breadwinner
noun
a family member whose wages pay for the household's
expenses.
Even before Mr. Davis suffered a leg injury that prevented him
from working, Mrs. Davis was thebreadwinnerfor the family.
This is the recommended starting point for Grade 5 Classroom Spelling Bees.
There is no rule stating that you must proceed word-for-word from this list.
You may skip a word if you sense that the word may present a problem at your bee.
101. diploma
noun
a document that records that a person has completed a course or
graduated from a school.
Abdul framed his universitydiplomaand hung it on the wall of
his office.
102. absurd
adjective
extremely silly, foolish or unreasonable : completely ridiculous.
Nora refused to play the game her little brother invented, saying
the rules were tooabsurd.
103. Victorian
adjective
relating to or typical of the art, letters or taste during Queen
Victoria's reign.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a famous Victoriannovel.
104. dispel
verbclear away : make something go away.
Dr. McKellars explanation of the surgical procedure did not
dispelhis patients fear.
105. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
coffee
noun [Could be confused with genus Coffea.]
a drink made from the roasted and ground seeds of certain trees
or shrubs that have cherrylike fruits.
If Griff drinkscoffeeafter dinner, he will stay awake until
dawn.
106. tarnish
verb
to become dull, discolored or stained in appearance.
Silverware willtarnishif it isn't polished frequently.
107. splurge
verb
to indulge in some unusual activity, expense, pleasure or luxury.
After studying hard for all of her finals, Kendra decided to
splurgeon a day at the spa as a reward.
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108. variety
noun
the quality or state of having numerous forms or types.
The florist had a wide varietyof flowers on display.
109. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
hodgepodge
noun [Has near-homonyms: hotchpotch, hotchpot.]
a mixture or medley of different things.
Eddies pantry is ahodgepodgeof canned fruits and vegetables,
dried pasta, and half-eaten packages of cookies.
110. superlative
adjective
surpassing all others.
Austinssuperlativeskill as a violinist makes him the clearchoice for concertmaster.
111. prowess
noun
extraordinary ability : excellence.
Francisco was named team captain because of his athletic
prowesson the court, but also because of his ability to motivate
his teammates.
112. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words partof speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
fondant
noun [Could be confused withfondante potatoes.]
a creamy sugar preparation that is used as a basis for candies or
icings.Duff carefully smoothed thefondantover the cake.
113. soprano
noun
the highest voice part in four-part harmony.
Violet singssopranoin her church choir.
114. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
wharf
noun [Could be confused with dwarf.]
a structure built at the water's shore so that ships can load and
unload cargo and passengers.
As the freighter docked at the wharf, workers were waiting to
unload its cargo.
115. lavender
noun
a fragrant mint plant with narrow leaves and spikes of lilac-
purple flowers.
Lavenderdoes not require much water or attention, and it can
bring both color and fragrance to a garden.
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116. mirthful
adjective [Has obsolete variant mirthfullnot found in
Webster's Third.]
full of gladness or merriment.
The stand-up comedian quickly put his audience in amirthful
mood.
117. squander
verb
to spend extravagantly or foolishly : throw away.
Amy deposited her birthday money into her bank account so she
wasn't tempted tosquanderit away.
118. chemistry
noun
a science that deals with the composition, structure and
properties of substances and transformations that they undergo.
In hischemistryclass, Mr. Lerner is teaching his students howto read the periodic table of elements.
119. diagonal
adjective
running across from corner to corner.
Chris prefers the tile floor with thediagonalpattern.
120. balderdash
noun
nonsense : empty talk or discourse.
The diners, realizing that the people at the next table were
eavesdropping, launched intobalderdash.
121. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
eerily
adverb [Could be confused with early.]
mysteriously or weirdly.
Main Street was eerilyquiet for hours after the bigthunderstorm.
122. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
gauze
noun [Could be confused with gos.]
a loosely woven cotton fabric used to bandage wounds.
After the procedure, the nurses quickly dressed the wound withgauze.
123. dwindled
verb
became steadily less : diminished in size, amount or quality.
Conversation in the classroom slowlydwindledto nothing as
Mrs. Hudson just stood and stared at her students.
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124. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
beret
noun [Has archaic homonym: bewray. Has near-homonym:
bourre.]
a soft flat hat that is usually woolen and has no visor.
The paintersberetwas a bit tattered and moth-eaten.
125. vigorously
adverb [Has uncommon British variant vigourouslynot found
in Webster's Third.]
forcefully, actively or energetically.
Jesse vigorouslyobjected to the referendum.
This is the recommended starting point for Grade 6 Classroom Spelling Bees.
There is no rule stating that you must proceed word-for-word from this list.
You may skip a word if you sense that the word may present a problem at your bee.
126. platinum
adjective
of, relating to, or made of a heavy, expensive silver metallic
element that is difficult to melt and is often used in electronic
devices and jewelry.
Lydia inherited aplatinumring and a pair of diamond earrings
from her grandmother.
127. mosaic
adjective
of or relating to a colored surface pattern or picture made of
inlaid tile, marble or glass.
Bryan snapped a photo of the gorgeousmosaicfloor in the hotel
lobby.
128. winsome
adjective
causing joy or pleasure : agreeable, pleasant.
The little tykes winsomesmile won him many friends.
129. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
yurt
noun [Could be confused with differently pronounced variant
yurta.]a circular domed tent of skins or felt used by Mongol nomads of
Siberia.
Theyurtoriginally had a fire pit in the middle and a hole in the
ceiling for smoke to escape.
130. epoxy
noun
any of various sticky, flexible resins that usually become rigid
when heated, are resistant to chemicals, and are often used in
coatings and adhesives.
Melanie reattached the handle of the serving dish with epoxy.
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131. gratis
adverb
without charge : free.
Some restaurants no longer provide watergratis.
132. WYSIWYG
noun
a display on a computer that shows the exact appearance of aprinted document.
The desktop publishing programs feature of WYSIWYGhas no
allure for Justin, who has formatted his clubs newsletter for
several years using codes.
133. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
Scrooge
noun [Has homonym scrouge/scroogeand near-homonym
scrooch.]
a person that hates to spend money.
Devon was a Scroogewho would rather be cold in the winter
than pay to turn on the heat.
134. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
mundane
adjective [Could be confused with differently-pronounced
cross-reference mondain/mondaine.]
characterized by human affairs, concerns, and activities that are
often practical, immediate, temporary and ordinary.
Penelope volunteered for themundanetask of folding her
family's laundry each week.
135. boycott
verb
combine against someone or something in a policy of absence
of relations for economic or political reasons.
The president announced that the country wouldboycottits
neighbor until the political prisoners were released.
136. melodramatic
adjective
extremely or overly emotional.
Kendall later admitted that the tantrum he threw over his
missing red sock was a littlemelodramatic.
137. cyclone
noun
a storm with very high winds that rotate around a center of low
atmospheric pressure.
In 2008 a devastatingcyclonein Myanmar killed nearly
140,000 people.
138. tapioca
noun
a preparation of cassava starch processed and used as a
thickening agent in liquid foods, such as pudding, soups or juicy
pies.
Sams recipe for blueberry pie calls for two tablespoons ofquick-cookingtapioca.
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139. documentary
noun
a film or television presentation that is factual.
Adocumentaryabout the destruction of rainforests is at the top
of Jeremiah's queue of movies to watch.
140. revelation
nounsomething that is revealed : disclosure.
Cullen shocked his parents with therevelationthat he actually
enjoyed broccoli.
141. escarpment
noun
a long cliff or steep slope separating two flat or slightly sloped
areas.
From the top of the escarpment, Peter had a great view of both
baseball fields.
142. guardian
noun
a person who is legally appointed to the care of another person
or another person's property.
To go on the field trip, Layla needed a permission slip signed by
her legalguardian.
143. electrode
noun
a conductor used to establish electrical contact with a
nonmetallic portion of a circuit.
The electrodeattached to the patient's chest was connected to a
monitor that recorded his heart's rhythms.
144. festooned
verb
suspended in a decorative chain hanging typically in a curve
between two points.
Trees in New Orleans are oftenfestoonedwith beads long afterMardi Gras festivities are over.
145. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
cumulus
noun [Has homonym: cumulous.]
a cloud form with a flat base and rounded outlines that oftenlooks like a mountain.
The fluffycumulusreminded Ashley of cotton candy.
146. quagmire
noun
a complex situation that is hard to get out of.
Russell found himself in a quagmirewhen each of his two best
friends asked him to take sides in their push-up contest.
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147. Say to the speller This word has a near-homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
tonsils
plural noun [Has near-homonym: tonsile.]
a pair of masses of spongy tissue that lie one on each side of the
throat.
After months of repeated strep throat infections, Tilly finally
had hertonsilsremoved.
148. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
The speller should not be disqualified based upon noting or failing to note punctuation or spacing within the following
word. The speller should be judged based upon uttering the correct sequence of letters in the correct order.
dcor
noun [Could be confused with archaic verb decore.]
arrangement of accessories in interior ornamentation.
Thedcorof Summer's room reflects her love of horses.
149. ottoman
noun
an overstuffed footstool.
Daniel spilled orange juice all over theottoman.
150. alpaca
noun
a South American animal like a llama with fine long woolly
hair.
The petting zoo featured four goats, analpaca, a pony and three
lambs.
This is the recommended starting point for Grade 7 Classroom Spelling Bees.
There is no rule stating that you must proceed word-for-word from this list.
You may skip a word if you sense that the word may present a problem at your bee.
151. maximum
noun
the greatest quantity or value attainable in a given case.
Each question on the test is worth amaximumof eight points.
152. supine
adjective
lying on the back or with the face upward.
Hunter's dog stayedsupinewhile getting her belly rubbed.
153. query
noun
a request for information.
Stans queryregarded the banks hours of operation on
Saturdays.
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154. The following word has two or more correct spellings. Either one of the two spellings listed below should be accepted as
correct; the speller only needs to provide one correct spelling.
caftan or
kaftan
noun
an ankle-length coatlike garment with very long sleeves.
All of the band members were colorfully dressed, but the leadsinger, who was wearing an elaborately stripedcaftan, stoodout the most.
155. tranquil
adjective
free from disturbance or turmoil : quiet, peaceful.
Eloise spent atranquilafternoon hiking in the woods.
156. commandeer
verb
to take arbitrary or forcible possession of.
Arwen felt it necessary tocommandeerthe TV remote from her
sister.
157. umbrage
noun
displeasure : resentment : annoyance.
Guillermo took great umbrageat the newspaper's review of his
new film.
158. synthetic
adjective
produced by artificial processes : man-made.
To reduce calories, the sugar content of some foods is replaced
bysyntheticsweeteners.
159. Gemini
plural noun
the third sign of the zodiac.
Geminiis Latin for "twins" and is often symbolized in written
form as the Roman numeral for two.
160. tarmac
noun
a road or runway made of asphalt.
Neils suitcase was damaged beyond repair when it fell from the
planes cargo compartment to thetarmac.
161. methodology
noun
a set of methods, procedures and rules employed by a science,art or discipline.
Macklin hopes to study music therapy and itsmethodology
when he attends college.
162. esoteric
adjective
difficult to understand.
Phil found the article on metaphysics too esoteric.
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163. carnitas
plural noun
small pieces of meat (especially pork) that are fried or roasted
until crisp.
Addison looked over the menu before selecting tacos filled with
carnitasand spicy salsa.
164. diametrically
adverb
completely : utterly.
The debaters helddiametricallyopposed viewpoints.
165. Say to the speller This word could be confused with a similar word. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part
of speech and definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
hubris
noun [Has differently pronounced variant: hybris.]
arrogance.
Nicolette sometimes found it difficult to avoidhubriswhen she
discussed her achievements.
166. sustainable
adjective
capable of lasting for a long time without interruption,
weakening, or losing in power or quality.
Engineers are looking at the Bay of Fundy's high tides as a
possible source ofsustainableenergy.
167. infrastructure
noun
the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of an
organization or a system).
The middle schoolers spent a week of social studies class
playing a computer game in which they coordinated thetaxation, zoning, public services and infrastructureof a city.
168. resilience
noun
the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or
change.
Vera showed herresilienceby recovering quickly from her
skiing accident.
169. tenement
noun
a single room or set of rooms for use by one resident or family :an apartment.
Polly grew up in atenementon the north side of the city.
170. Say to the speller This word has a homonym. Next, say the word. Then, provide the words part of speech and
definition. Finally, answer spellers questions, if any, about the word.
braille
noun [Has homonym: brail.]
a system of writing for the blind that uses letters represented by
raised dots.
Many books and magazines are printed inbraillefor use by the
visually impaired.
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171.