(upbeat music) - Welcome to the 2026 WHYY Billy Penn Spellingbee.

- I'm from Alder Avenue Middle School.

- I go to Pennsylvania Avenue School.

- I go to Solace Cohen Elementary School.

- My school is Brighton Avenue.

- The word is retrocedence.

- The word is declension.

- The word is hipsterism.

- The word is octuplicate.

- Correct, correct, correct.

- Speciation.

- Macadamia.

- Gullibility.

- Millionaire.

- Escarpment.

- Sympathy.

- Adolescence.

- Extraordinaire.

- Periodontist.

- Congratulations, you are the winner of the WHYY Billy Penn spelling bee for 2026.

Congratulations.

Hi everyone.

Welcome to the WHYY and Billy Penn presentation of Journey to the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

I'm Shirley Min and I am here at William Davies Middle School in Mays Landing, New Jersey.

A student at this school is heading to the National Bee in Washington, D.C.

But before we get to his story, the excitement is building and the final touches are underway as regional spellers from across the country get ready to take the stage at this year's Bee.

Are you ready for the good times?

Yes!

Do you love finding the perfect word?

Yes.

Flexing your memory?

Yes.

And being center stage?

Yes.

Then you're gonna love the Bee.

It's an experience I'll never forget.

Step up and join millions of like-minded kids who participate in Spelling Bees across the country.

So much fun.

Seize the moment and test yourself.

It could all lead here one day.

That is correct.

Somebody peel 'em off the floor.

But this journey is its own reward.

It's just a great experience overall.

Don't miss out.

Join the fun and dive into the world of spelling bees.

Learning words, standing at the microphone, and competing against the dictionary.

- The bee has been so much fun, especially the competition.

It's not spellers against each other, it's all of us against the dictionary.

I've really experienced that at the spelling bee.

- You never know, you could go all the way to the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC.

Are you ready for the great science?

More than 40 students from South Jersey made their way to WHYY's studio in March.

Here's a look at that competition, hosted by Tracy Matisak.

What do you say we spell some words?

Let's start with Speller number one.

The word is slab.

Slab.

S-L-A-B, slab.

Correct.

The word is daisy.

Daisy.

D-A-I-S-Y.

Daisy.

Correct.

The word is deltoidal.

Deltoidal.

D-E-L-T-O-I-D-A-L.

Correct.

This word also has a homonym, so I'll give you the word and the information.

The word is woebegone.

It is an adjective.

It means exhibiting a condition of suffering, great distress, sorrow, or misery.

Woebegone.

W-O-E-B-E-G-O-N-E.

Woebegone.

Correct.

Nitrate.

N-I-T-R-A-T-E.

Nitrate.

Correct.

Astigmatism.

A-S-T-I-G-M-A-T-I-S-M.

Astigmatism.

Correct.

Gallbladder.

G-A-L-L-B-L-A-D-D-E-R.

Gallbladder.

Correct.

The word is epidural.

Epidural.

May I have the definition please?

Situated upon or administered outside the tough fibrous membrane that covers the spinal cord.

Epidural.

E-P-I-D-U-R-A-L.

Epidural.

Correct.

The word is repercussion.

Can you please use it in a sentence?

Thetan voted to kick Raul out of the club without fear of repercussion.

Repercussion.

R-E-P-E-R-C-U-S-S-I-O-N.

Repercussion.

Correct.

This word has a homonym so I'll give you the word and the additional information.

The word is sclerosis.

It's a noun and it's the pathological hardening of tissue produced by overgrowth of fibrous tissue and other changes or by increase in interstitial tissue and other changes.

Could you use it in a sentence please?

The sclerosis of Shamir's arteries put him at risk of having a heart attack.

Sclerosis.

S-C-L-E-R-O-S-I-S.

Sclerosis.

Correct.

The word is Cretaceous.

Cretaceous.

May I have the definition please?

Of or relating to the last period of the Mesozoic era and the corresponding minerals, flora, and fauna of the period.

Cretaceous c-r-e-t-a-c-e-o-u-s.

Correct.

Gaspergou.

G-a-s-p-e-r-g-u.

Gaspergou.

That is incorrect.

The correct spelling is g-a-s-p-e-r-g-o-u.

The word is struselkuchen.

Struselkuchen.

May I have the origin, please?

Uh, this word consists of two German elements.

May I have the definition, please?

Coffee cake that is baked with a topping of crumbly mixture of butter, sugar, and flour, and sometimes nuts and spices.

Could you repeat the word, please?

Streusselkuchen.

Streusselkuchen.

S-T-R-E-U-S-E-L-K-U-C-H-E-N.

Correct.

Thank you.

One more word for the championship.

Speller number 40.

The word is "Argaba".

"Argaba".

May I have the definition, please?

A Semitic language closely related to Amharic and spoken in East Central Ethiopia.

"Argaba".

May I have the origin, please?

This word is from Amaric.

"Argobba".

A-R-G-O-B-B-A.

"Argobba".

That is correct.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Speller #40.

You will represent, yes!

You will represent South Jersey at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

You are the winner of the WHYY Billy Penn Regional Spelling Bee for South Jersey 2026.

Congratulations!

Thank you so much.

Well, it took 27 rounds and more than two hours before my friend here, 13-year-old Isaac Goremo, made it to the top spot.

So what does it take to train like a champion?

Let's find out.

To be a Spelling Bee champion, you really need a lot of perseverance, you know.

You need to put in those hours every day, learning new words, learning new roots.

The way I practiced mainly was that my dad, you know, he's a good coder.

So what he would do is he would use Python to create like these tests with the words of the champions and then like he would quiz me and so would Blaine.

Everyone's helping you practice.

yeah and that's really how mostly how I prepared.

Macaque.

Macaque.

Definition, please.

Any of numerous short-tailed old world monkeys of Macaca and related general having distinct ischial.

Ischial.

Ischial callosities and usually tufted eyebrows and being found chiefly in southern Asia and the East Indies.

Macaque.

M-A-C-A-Q-U-E.

Macaque.

Correct.

Bathyal.

Bathyal definition please.

Of or relating to the deeper parts of the ocean, especially between 100 and 1000 thousands.

Bathyal.

Does this come from Greek bathis, meaning deep?

You're on the right track.

Bathyal.

B-A-T-H-Y-A-L.

Bathyal.

That is correct.

It's a great opportunity to be able to come to Washington D.C.

every year.

It's definitely a lot of work I would know firsthand.

The fact that he's kept doing it over the year, that's real perseverance.

I'm really proud of him.

He knows a lot of words and I feel like he's studying really hard.

I mean, I help him, but knowing all those words, it's not like pure rote memorization.

You get to know a lot about the world's definitions and the confidence to go on stage.

A lot of people just don't want to do that.

What's the hardest word I can think of?

Would probably be pneumonia ultramicroscopic silico volcano coniosis, which refers to, I believe, a rare lung disorder caused by volcanic ash.

Me going to Scripps has mainly been a team effort on the part of my family.

The word is escarpment.

Escarpment.

E-S-C-A-R-P-M-E-N-T.

Escarpment.

Correct.

I'm very thankful to everyone here.

One major thing that I'd like to take away from Scripps is like, you know, handling competition and, you know, staying firm under pressure.

And, of course, words as well, because like that's what the spelling bee is all about.

If you want to get into the competition, I would say it's probably going to be hard, like you might face setbacks, but in the end, I believe if you really stick to it, then you can do it.

(upbeat music) - The Philadelphia Bee was just as intense as South Jersey's competition.

And the students, as you'll see, came ready to S-P-E-L-L.

- It's time to get to spelling.

Speller number one, let's go.

The word is blink.

- B-L-I-N-K, blink.

- Correct.

- The word is wept.

The word is gaggle.

The word is gateway.

The word is hostile.

- Hostile, H-O-S-T-I-L-E, hostile.

- Correct.

- Breakthrough, B-R-E-A-K-T-H-R-O-U-G-H, breakthrough.

- Stencil, S-T-E-N-C-I-L, stencil.

- Inglourious, I-N-G-L-O-R-I-O-U-S, inglorious.

- Correct.

(audience applauding) - The word is demographics.

- Demographics.

D-E-M-O-G-R-A-P-H-I-C-S, demographics.

- Correct, correct, correct.

The word is unremitting.

- Can I have the definition?

- It means constant or incessant.

- Unremitting.

U-N-R-E-M-I-T-T-I-N-G.

- Correct.

The word is redolent.

The word is osprey.

The word is rhizome.

The word is dopamine.

- Can I have the definition, please?

- Yes, a monoamine that is a decarboxylated form of a crystalline amino acid and occurs especially as a neurotransmitter in the brain as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of epinephrine.

- Dopamine, D-O-P-A-M-I-N-E, dopamine.

- Correct.

The word is sardonic.

It's an adjective, and it means expressive of or characterized by derision or scorn.

- Sardonic, S-A-R-D-O-N-I-C, sardonic.

- Correct.

This word is a compound entry, and you're responsible for spelling all parts of the word entry.

The word is par excellence.

Par excellence.

P-A-R-E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-C-E.

Par excellence.

Correct.

And then there were two.

The word is cummerbund.

Could you give you the definition?

Yes, it's a waistband worn in place of a vest with men's dress clothes.

What's the origin?

It's from a word that went from Persian to Hindi.

Could you use it in a sentence?

The bride wanted the groom's cummerbund to match the pale pink of her flowers C-U-M-M-E-R-B-U-N-D, cummerbund?

Correct.

The word is Bermudas.

Bermudas, B-E-R-M-U-D-A-S, Bermudas.

Correct.

The word is lorikeet.

L-O-R-I-K-E-E-T.

That is incorrect.

This word has a homonym so I'll give you the word and the other information.

The word is merino.

It's a noun and it's a fine wool or cotton yarn used for knitwear.

Merino.

M-E-R-I-N-O.

Merino.

Correct.

Speller number 20.

One more word for you for the championship.

This word has a homonym so I'll give you the word and the information.

The word is mochi.

It's a noun and it's a dough-like mass made from cooked and pounded glutinous rice that is used in Japanese cuisine as an unbaked pastry.

mochi m-o-c-h-i mochi.

That is correct, Speller number 20.

Congratulations!

You are the winner of the WHYY Billy Penn Regional Spelling Bee for Philadelphia and you will represent Philadelphia at the Scripps National Spelling Bee again in Washington DC.

Congratulations!

A round of applause for all of our spellers ladies and gentlemen.

This is Jaden Jang's third year at the National Bee and he hopes his past experience will give him a competitive edge.

My name is Jaden Jang.

I'm in the sixth grade and I go to Girard Academic Music Program.

Not many people can do it three times in a row.

This is the championship word.

If he spells this correctly, that is the end of the spelling bee.

Nascent.

N-A-S-C-E-N-T.

Nascent.

That is correct.

So my mom one day told me when I was in I think third grade that there was a spelling bee and then I said I want to do it and then I kind of like practiced a lot and then I made it.

Every time I got back from school, I usually took like a 30 minute break.

After those 30 minutes were up, I would start to do the words of the champions to like get prepared for regionals for like an hour.

And then after dinner, my mom would quiz me like all the words.

I mean, it was kind of rigorous, but it was alright because I've done it before.

E-R-C-U.

My skills are a bit rusty.

Ahimsa.

A-H-I-M-S-A.

Ahime.

A-J-I-M-E-C.

Eat your lops.

During the couple rounds before I won, I wasn't really thinking.

I was just hoping that things could go smoothly and I could win again.

I usually think that if I get out in this round, I'm still proud.

G-R-I-E-F-F-U-L.

Correct.

Because I've made it this far already, so I can just keep my head high.

To be honest, I'm terrified at the thought of going on the stage.

It's like seeing all those eyes on me while spelling.

It's kind of unnatural.

The spelling bee has made me comfortable enough to even walk on that stage by myself.

I can still play with my brother, like with video games and toys.

I can still read, because my parents make sure I don't completely burn out.

And we still go hiking, like once in a while.

But I usually find every opportunity to study for a spelling bee.

And to add on to my hobbies, I like reading and cubing.

I also played a violin.

[VIOLIN PLAYING] If I could describe this experience in one word, I would say exhilarating.

You need to devote a lot of your time to studying for the spelling bee.

Reading gives you a lot of knowledge about words that you don't know exactly.

And also don't be afraid to make mistakes because everyone makes mistakes.

And I know it's a bit strange up there and like you could feel nervous, but I think you just take it easy and walk out proud.

WHYY is gifting both students an all expenses paid trip to Washington DC for the Scripps National Spelling Bee that will take place on May 26th through the 28th.

Congratulations, we're going to be rooting for you both and good luck.

The competition isn't over just yet.

Tracy, take it away.

Thanks Shirley.

Well it's time to put the adults to the test.

The following words are in honor of America's 250th anniversary.

Spellers take your time.

The first word is independence which means freedom from being governed or ruled by another country.

Independence.

Independence.

Independence.

Independence.

That's going to be independence.

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-E.

Independence.

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-E.

Correct.

Your second word, declaration.

A written or official announcement.

Declaration.

D-E-C-L-A-R-A-T-I-O-N.

Declaration.

Declaration.

D-E-C-L-A-R-A-T-I-O-N.

Declaration.

D-E-C-L-A-R-A-T-I-O-N.

Yay!

Sovereignty, which means the power of a country to control its own government.

Sovereignty, S-O-V-E-R-E-I-G-N-T-Y.

Sovereignty.

Sovereignty, S-O-V-E-R-E-I-G-N-T-Y.

Sovereignty, S-O-V-E-R-I-E-N-I-E-G-N-T-Y.

[BUZZER] Ugh.

Now this next word you might want to sound out.

Semi-quincentennial, which is the primary formal term for a 250th anniversary.

Semi-quincentennial, S-E-M-I- Q-U-I-N-C-E-N-T-E-N-N-I-A-L, quincentennial.

S E M I Q U I N T C E N N T E N I A L. Semi-quincentennial.

(buzzer) (laughter) S E Semi.

S E M I Semi- Quin.

Q U I E N T E N N I A L.

(buzzer) That was wrong.

(laughter) Thanks so much for tuning in.

Don't forget to watch and cheer on our regional winners at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Good night, everyone.

(upbeat music) - Declaration.

- Okay.

- D-E-C-L-A-R-A-T-I-O-N.

(bell dings) (upbeat music) - Independence.

- I-N-D-E-P-E-N, wait.

D-E-N-C-E.

(bell dings) (upbeat music) - Sovereignty, which means the power of a country to control its government, sovereignty.

- S-O-V-E-R-E-I-G-N-T-Y?

(bell dings) (laughs) (upbeat music) - Semi-quincentennial.

- Okay.

S E M I Q-U-I-N-C-E-N-T-E-N-N-I-A-L.

(bell dings) (laughs) - And that is correct.

(upbeat music)