2026 Words of the Champions
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Flashcards in this deck (23)

  • bee cartoon This section is labeled the "one bee" difficulty level, described as a great place to begin for building confidence and spotting patterns.

    difficulty

  • A single asterisk () next to a word indicates a primarily British spelling; a double asterisk (*) indicates the spelling that is more widely used.

    spelling notation

  • An accolade is defined in the text as praise or honor for something one did.

    vocabulary accolade

  • The word abject is described as "sunk to or existing in a low state or condition."

    vocabulary abject

  • The entry for adjacent states it means having a common border.

    vocabulary adjacent

  • Atrophy is defined in the text as to undergo a wasting away or progressive decline.

    vocabulary atrophy

  • The adjective baleful is described as "marked by a deadly or pernicious influence or effect: evil."

    vocabulary baleful

  • The adjective august is defined as "of majestic dignity or grandeur: marked by stateliness or magnificence."

    vocabulary august

  • The term cadence is given the brief definition vocal rhythm.

    vocabulary cadence

  • The word 'celestial' means relating to the sky.

    vocabulary celestial definitions

  • To 'commandeer' is to seize possession of.

    vocabulary commandeer definitions

  • A 'clichĂ©' is a trite or stereotyped phrase or expression.

    vocabulary cliché definitions

  • 'Contrite' means repentant, apologetic.

    vocabulary contrite definitions

  • 'Composite' is composed of or including elements drawn from various sources.

    vocabulary composite definitions

  • 'Drivel' means to babble thoughtlessly.

    vocabulary drivel definitions

  • The word "elusive" is defined as hard to catch.

    vocabulary elusive

  • The verb "enervate" is defined as to weaken.

    vocabulary enervate

  • Each year over \(11\ \text{million}\) students join the spelling bee.

    statistics spellingbee

  • If you reach the Scripps National Spelling Bee's National Competition, you'll be one of the top \(0.00002\%\) of spellers — like being one in a million.

    statistics spellingbee

  • Beginner One Bee word list (part 1): - fanatic - fanfic - feeble - fellowship - felonious

    spelling onebee vocab

  • Beginner One Bee word list (part 2): - ferret - fervently - fiction - fidelity - fie

    spelling onebee vocab

  • Beginner One Bee word list (part 3): - fiendishly - fife - filar - filbert - financier

    spelling onebee vocab

  • The adverb fervently means in a manner marked by often deep intensity of feeling or expression.

    Answer-side image (contest group photo):

    spelling bee contestants

    vocab definition onebee
Study Notes

Overview

Cartoon bee illustration

This document is a beginner-level ("One Bee") spelling list from the Scripps National Spelling Bee study book, arranged alphabetically and intended to build confidence with common spelling patterns.

How the list is organized

  • Difficulty level: "One Bee" (beginner).
  • Alphabetical order: words arranged A–Z across parts.
  • Spelling flags: single asterisk () = primarily British spelling; double asterisk (*) = more widely used form.
  • Notes & stories: some words link to short etymology or story pages (e.g., pages 56, 85, 86).

Quick-study strategy (how to use this list)

  • Learn in small groups (10–20 words) and quiz aloud to practice pronunciation and spelling recall.
  • Focus on patterns (prefixes, suffixes, roots) rather than memorizing single words.
  • Study variants: memorize the preferred form for contests but recognize British/American alternatives.
  • Use active recall: cover the word, spell it aloud, then check; repeat after 24–48 hours.
  • Use the book's story pages (where indicated) to create mnemonic hooks for tricky words.

Key spelling patterns & sample words

  • Prefixes & roots: ab-, ad-, ac-, an-, anti-, con-, de-, en-, trans- (examples: abashed, adjacent, accolade, anthropology, antiseptic, conserve).
  • Common suffixes: -tion, -able/-ible, -ence/-ance, -ive (examples: acceptance, applicable, applause, apprehensive).
  • Double letters & consonant clusters: accommodate-style doubles; committee‑style patterns (watch for repeated letters).
  • Silent letters & tricky phonemes: watch for silent letters or unexpected letters in pronunciation (examples: clichĂ©, broccoli? (watch endings), cavalry?).
  • Variant spellings to watch: criticized / criticised and other -ize/-ise or -or/-our differences.

Note: the list contains many short, common words ideal for building pattern recognition (e.g., amass, amiably, attempt, attendee, cascade/caesar-type).

Selected word meanings and quick notes (from text)

  • abject — sunk to or existing in a low state or condition.
  • accolade — praise or honor for something one did.
  • adjacent — having a common border.
  • atrophy — a wasting away or progressive decline.
  • brigand — a bandit; one who lives by plunder.
  • august (adj.) — of majestic dignity or grandeur.
  • blingy — flashy jewelry worn to indicate wealth or status.
  • cadence — vocal rhythm.
  • commandeer — to seize possession of (often used in law/military contexts).
  • clichĂ© — a trite or stereotyped phrase or expression.
  • contrite — repentant; apologetic.

(Use these short definitions as mnemonic anchors when studying each word.)

Common pitfalls & exam tips

  • Pay attention to homophones and words with similar sounds but different spellings.
  • Watch for regional variants marked by * or **; confirm which form the judge expects.
  • When unsure, break words into prefix + root + suffix and spell each part.
  • Listen for silent letters and unexpected consonant clusters when speaker pronounces the word.
  • If given a definition or sentence, use it to infer prefix/root meaning.

Contest context & motivation

Historical contestants photo

  • The Scripps National Spelling Bee is international: contestants come from U.S. territories and many countries.
  • Over 11 million students participate in preliminary programs each year.
  • Reaching the national competition places a speller among the top 0.00002% of participants.

Practical study plan (2-week example)

  • Days 1–3: learn 20 new words (focus on pronunciation, part of speech, and a short definition).
  • Days 4–7: review those 20 with dictation tests and flashcards; add 10 more words.
  • Week 2: mixed review, practice rounds (oral spelling), and use story/mnemonic pages for hard words.

References & notes from the book

  • New words list: see book page 56.
  • Word histories / stories: referenced on pages 85 and 86 for selected entries.
  • Use the book’s example sentences and story notes to strengthen memory for difficult words.

Quick reminders

  • Prioritize pattern mastery (roots, prefixes, suffixes) over rote memorization.
  • Use the starred notation to learn variant forms but know the contest-preferred spelling.
  • Practice spelling aloud under timed conditions to simulate the Bee.