Could You Make the Finals?
Test yourself with words from this year's Bee. Five questions. No pressure.
Which of these is spelled correctly?
- Conscientious — Correct! This one trips up a lot of contestants — the 'sc' combo is a classic trap.
- Consciencious — Not quite — it's C-O-N-S-C-I-E-N-T-I-O-U-S. The 'ti' before 'ous' is the key.
- Conciencious — Close, but no — remember: C-O-N-S-C-I-E-N-T-I-O-U-S. Bee contestants drill words like this for years.
What does 'ephemeral' mean?
- Lasting only a short time — Exactly right. Knowing definitions is now required at the Bee — vocabulary rounds are just as tough as spelling.
- Relating to ancient history — That would be 'archaic.' Ephemeral means short-lived — think morning dew or a trend that fades in a week.
- Intensely bright or vivid — That's closer to 'vivid' or 'luminous.' Ephemeral is all about fleeting moments.
Which spelling is correct?
- Pharaoh — Yes! The 'aoh' ending is famously tricky. Bee contestants encounter Ancient Greek and Egyptian root words constantly.
- Pharoah — Almost — but it's P-H-A-R-A-O-H. The 'a' before the 'o' is the part that catches people.
- Phararoh — Not this one — P-H-A-R-A-O-H. The root comes from ancient Egyptian, which is why the spelling feels unusual.
What does 'loquacious' mean?
- Tending to talk a great deal — Right! From the Latin 'loqui' — to speak. Knowing Latin and Greek roots is a major competitive advantage at the Bee.
- Moving in a graceful manner — That's closer to 'lithe' or 'graceful.' Loquacious is your chatty friend who never stops talking.
- Having strong opinions — That would be 'opinionated.' Loquacious specifically means very talkative, from the Latin root for speech.
How do you spell the word meaning 'a feeling of unease or worry'?
- Anxiety — Anxiety is correct English — but we were looking for 'angst.' Still, you know your spelling!
- Angst — Exactly — borrowed from German, 'angst' keeps its original spelling in English. Loanwords are a Bee favorite.
- Angzt — The German origin might make you want that 'z' — but in English it's A-N-G-S-T. Tricky loanword!
The road to Thursday's finals was anything but easy. Starting from a field of 247 competitors, spellers worked through nine rounds combining traditional spelling with vocabulary challenges — a format designed to test not just memorization, but genuine language mastery.
For first-timer Logan Bailey, making the finals was almost surreal. 'I was more excited than nervous, you could say,' he said after nailing his semifinal word. 'Everything was cruising through my head.' That kind of composure under pressure is exactly what separates a finalist from the rest of the field.
I've been working towards it for the past year, like tirelessly. But I didn't expect to actually make it to the finals.Avishka Dudala, 13, finalist from Prosper, Texas
The 9 Finalists at a Glance
| Finalist | Finals Experience | Notable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zwe Spacetime | First time | Finals newcomer | Brother of 2021 champion Zaila Avant-garde |
| Logan Bailey | First time | Finals newcomer | Said he was 'more excited than nervous' |
| Avishka Dudala | First time | Finals newcomer | 13 years old, from Prosper, TX |
| Oliver Halkett | Returning | 3-time finalist | One of three veterans in the field |
| Shrey Parikh | Returning | Multi-year finalist | One of three veterans in the field |
| Sarv Dharavane | Returning | Finished 3rd in 2024 | Vowed 'it's not over yet' |
| Finalist 7 | – | – | – |
| Finalist 8 | – | – | – |
| Finalist 9 | – | – | – |
Sarv Dharavane knows what it feels like to fall just short. He finished third at last year's Bee, and that near-miss clearly lit a fire. 'I've prepared a lot for this spelling and qualifying for the finals,' Dharavane said. 'But it's not over yet. I'm still not done. There's one more stage left and I intend on completing that fully.'
Then there's Zwe Spacetime — carrying both a legacy and a name that sounds like it belongs in a sci-fi novel. His older sister, Zaila Avant-garde, won the whole thing in 2021. Now it's his turn, and he's been putting in the work. Two to four hours of drilling every day, more on weekends, with his dad as his main study partner.
What It Takes: Then vs. Now
Traditional Bee Format
- Spelling only Competition type Just spell the word correctly
- No vocabulary component
- Written tests Early rounds Multiple choice written exam
- Trophy + smaller prizes
Modern Bee Format
- Spelling + Vocab Competition type Must know meaning AND spelling
- Dedicated vocabulary rounds
- 9 rounds Path to finals Grueling multi-day elimination
- $50,000 Grand prize Plus Kennedy Space Center trip
The Spacetime Family Legacy
Zaila Avant-garde made history when she won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee — becoming one of the most celebrated champions in the competition's history. She was widely praised not just for her spelling, but for her personality and her other talent: Harlem Globetrotter-level basketball dribbling.
Now her younger brother Zwe Spacetime is chasing his own place in Bee history. If he wins Thursday night, the Spacetime-Avant-garde family would have two Scripps champions — a remarkable feat for any family, let alone one that has become a household name in the spelling world.
Zwe's father serves as his primary study partner, continuing what appears to be a family tradition of deep commitment to the craft of spelling.
The Prize Package
- $50,000 — Cash Prize
- 1 — Kennedy Space Center Trip
- 247 — Competitors Started
- 9 — Rounds Survived
- 2021 — Last Spacetime Win
- 8PM — Airtime Thursday
How Champions Prepare: The Bee Training Blueprint
- Master Root Words First — Latin, Greek, French, and German roots unlock thousands of words. Know the roots and you can reason through almost any unfamiliar word.
- Daily Drilling — Consistency Over Intensity — Zwe Spacetime does 2–4 hours every day. Short, consistent sessions beat marathon cramming. Build the habit, not the panic.
- Find a Study Partner — Zwe's dad is his main training partner. Having someone quiz you out loud mirrors the real pressure of standing at the microphone.
- Study Vocabulary, Not Just Spelling — The modern Bee tests definitions too. Know what words mean — not just how to spell them. Read widely and look up words you encounter.
- Practice Staying Calm Under Pressure — Logan Bailey was 'more excited than nervous' on stage. Mental composure is a skill. Practice spelling out loud in front of others to simulate the spotlight.
What makes the Bee remarkable isn't just the spelling — it's the culture among competitors. Even as they battle for the top spot, finalists are known for cheering each other on, trading high fives between rounds, and calming each other's nerves in the green room. It's a competition that somehow also manages to be a community.
Avishka Dudala, 13, captured that spirit perfectly. She'd been working 'tirelessly' for a year toward this moment — and still couldn't quite believe she'd made it. That combination of relentless preparation and genuine humility seems to define this year's class of finalists.
Spelling Bee Myths vs. Reality
Spelling Bee winners just have great memories.
Verdict: mostly false
Memory helps, but top competitors spend years studying etymology, language origins, and vocabulary. Zwe Spacetime trains 2–4 hours daily. It's closer to athletic training than passive memorization.
The finals are only about spelling.
Verdict: false
The modern Bee includes dedicated vocabulary rounds — contestants must know what words mean, not just how to spell them. Spellers survive nine total rounds of combined spelling and vocabulary challenges.
The prize is just a trophy.
Verdict: false
The winner takes home $50,000 in cash plus a trip to Kennedy Space Center, among other prizes. The Bee has become a serious competitive event with serious rewards.
Having a champion sibling gives you an unfair advantage.
Verdict: mostly false
Legacy certainly brings inspiration and family coaching, as Zwe Spacetime's story shows. But 246 other competitors also made it to nationals through their own preparation. Making the finals is earned, not inherited.
Watch the Finals
- Tune In Thursday Night: The Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals air live on ION starting at 8 p.m. Thursday. Watch nine of the country's top young spellers compete for $50,000 and the championship title.
- Follow the Bee Online: Live updates, word lists, and competitor profiles are available at spellingbee.com throughout the competition.
- Prepare Your Own Speller: Registration for the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee opens in the fall. Local school spelling bees are the first step — talk to your child's teacher or principal about competing.
About the Scripps National Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the oldest and most prestigious spelling competition in the United States, founded in 1925. It is administered by the E.W. Scripps Company, the parent company of WCPO Cincinnati.
The competition begins at the local and regional level, with millions of students participating in school-level bees each year. Only the top performers from each region advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C.
In recent years, the Bee has expanded its format to include vocabulary challenges alongside traditional spelling, reflecting a broader emphasis on language mastery. The competition airs nationally on ION and ESPN platforms.