The Bee Blog

First Bee

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:37

Rohan Rajeev, speller 235, has competed in other bees – but he is in his first Scripps National Spelling Bee. “I’ve dreamed of coming here to compete,” the Oklahoma eighth grader said. “T...

Just like LeBron

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:35

Shourav Dasari, speller 254, is a big fan of the Houston sports teams. He was pretty excited to be on ESPN tonight. “It’s kind of weird, you see people like LeBron James on it,” he said. “I...

Overwhelmed

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:32

Mira Dedhia, speller 75, said she was “just so overwhelmed and excited” to be in the Finals. “I always wanted to make it to the top,” she said. “I never thought it could happen.” ...

Another perfect round

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:27

We have four spellers - and we get to keep four spellers. ...

Drop the mic

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:24

Shourav Dasari, speller 254, made quick work of his word, Mogollon. Not that he left time to give it - but it means of or relating to an ancient culture of west central New Me...

Raksheet is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:21

Raksheet Kota, speller 200, is in his first year at the Bee. And he made it to the Finals. “I’m feeling pretty excited,” he said. “I like spelling because you can get lucky. I’ve been luc...

Tejas is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:13

Saussurite, a mineral consisting of a tough compact substance that is white, greenish or grayish and is produced in part at least by alteration of feldspar, felled one of our final spellers. Tejas ...

Really? Lice?

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:10

The definition of Ananya Vinay's last word drew titters from the crowd. Ananya, speller 264, a California sixth grader, got phthirophagus. It means eating lice. She spelled it co...

The Bee gets into online dating

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 22:02

Raksheet Kota, speller 200, thought his sentence was... "interesting." Maybe the Texas eighth grader hasn't yet tried online dating. "Heather's brother suggested she post a Tind...

Perfect round!

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 21:48

We get to keep all six of our spellers! ...

Shruthika is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 21:43

Shruthika Padhy, speller 278, misspelled quintain, a post with a crosspiece having at one end a broad board and at the other end a sandbag used especially in the middle ages in a sport ...

Alex is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 21:38

"Aw, dang it," Alex Iyer, speller 259, said after he misspelled savate, a form of boxing in which blows are delivered with either the feet or the hands. The Texas eighth grader tied for 2...

Naysa is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 21:26

Last year, Naysa Modi, speller 210, missed the semi-finals by one point. "I'm so happy to come this far," the Louisiana sixth grader said. "I'm really ecstatic." Naysa said she ...

Shrinidhi is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 21:24

Shrinidhi Gopal, speller 114, is a California eighth grader in her first Bee. She said she was “excited, but mostly nervous” about making the Finals. Shrinidhi is a big reader who admi...

Erin is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 21:14

"How's it going?" Dr. Bailly asked. "Oh, I don't even know any more," said Erin Howard, speller 36, an Alabama sixth grader. She misspelled Klydonograph, which is used for ...

At the end of the round

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 21:04

Four spellers have misspelled. We have 11 spellers who are still in the competition. ...

Alice is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 20:57

Alice Liu, speller 191, is the youngest speller in the Bee. “It made me more nervous, but also more excited,” she said. “I’m representing my region, but I also feel I’m representing the f...

Saketh is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 20:53

Saketh Sundar, speller 187, is a Maryland sixth grader. He tied for 46th place last year. Saketh said he was feeling "ecstatic" because "I never expected to come this far." Last...

Sreeniketh is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 20:42

Sreeniketh Vogoti, speller 167 is a Florida eighth grader. He said he tries not to think of anything that makes him nervous – a good strategy. “The only mantra I have is try not to miss...

Our first speller is out

Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 20:35

Rohan Sachdev, speller 27, was the first speller up in the Finals. He misspelled panniculitis, inflammation of the subcutaneous layer of abdominal fat, and is out. Rohan, and eight...