Spelling Bee Words
Competition-level spelling bee words, from archipelago to ubiquitous. Includes the study method that actually works for bees.
Tip: keep this page open on a phone and pass it around.
Spelling Bee Words — full list (50 words)
- abattoir
- aberration
- abhorrence
- abstemious
- accede
- acolyte
- adjudicate
- aficionado
- alacrity
- allegory
- anachronism
- ancillary
- animosity
- antediluvian
- apocryphal
- archipelago
- assiduous
- astringent
- audacious
- auxiliary
- avarice
- bellicose
- benevolent
- cacophony
- camaraderie
- capitulate
- capricious
- celerity
- chagrin
- chicanery
- clandestine
- cognizant
- colloquial
- compunction
- conflagration
- connoisseur
- contiguous
- corollary
- crescendo
- cryptic
- deleterious
- demagogue
- desiccate
- diaphanous
- dichotomy
- didactic
- disingenuous
- ebullient
- egregious
- elucidate
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50 spelling bee words with definitions and language of origin, as printable study cards.
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How to play
- Study by language of origin, not alphabetically. Latin, Greek, French and German words each follow different spelling rules.
- Learn the roots: -ology, -tion, -esque, -phile recur across hundreds of bee words.
- Practise asking the pronouncer for the definition, part of speech, language of origin and a sentence — it is allowed and it helps.
- Spell with your finger on your palm before you say the letters out loud; it catches reversals.
FAQ
What are good spelling bee words?
Competition lists favour words with Greek and Latin roots: archipelago, ubiquitous, conscientious, acquiesce and onomatopoeia.
How do I study for a spelling bee?
Group words by language of origin, learn common roots and suffixes, then practise under time pressure with a partner.
Can you ask questions in a spelling bee?
Yes. You can ask for the definition, part of speech, language of origin, and for the word to be used in a sentence.
How many words are in the Scripps National Spelling Bee?
The official study list runs to tens of thousands of words, grouped by language of origin.