--- title: Photos: Words and Nerves at the National Spelling Bee description: The Scripps National Spelling Bee commenced on Wednesday, quickening logophiles' hearts as the competition goes about its task of fulfilling or quashing the hopes and dreams of young wordsters. Here are some of the best emotional reactions to getting words right (and wrong) over the years canonical: https://time.com/134409/national-spelling-bee-photos/ author: TIME Staff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-05-29T01:26:56.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:48:38.491Z og:title: A Whirlwind of Words and Nerves at the National Spelling Bee og:description: The Scripps National Spelling Bee commenced on Wednesday, quickening logophiles' hearts as the competition goes about its task of fulfilling or quashing the hopes and dreams of young wordsters. Here are some of the best emotional reactions to getting words right (and wrong) over the years og:url: https://time.com/134409/national-spelling-bee-photos/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2feadfae4ee94076/698691293bc999482a1a3aa1/national-spelling-bee-1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2027 og:image:height: 1140 og:image:alt: National Spelling Bee Emotional Moments og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: A Whirlwind of Words and Nerves at the National Spelling Bee twitter:description: The Scripps National Spelling Bee commenced on Wednesday, quickening logophiles' hearts as the competition goes about its task of fulfilling or quashing the hopes and dreams of young wordsters. Here are some of the best emotional reactions to getting words right (and wrong) over the years twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2feadfae4ee94076/698691293bc999482a1a3aa1/national-spelling-bee-1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # A Whirlwind of Words and Nerves at the National Spelling Bee > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. 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Alex Wong—Getty Images by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff May 29, 2014 1:26 AM UTC  Andrew Lay of Stanley, N.C. reacts after he correctly spelled the word "negus" during the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 31, 2007 in Washington. Alex Wong—Getty Images  Lance Letson Hungar of McLean, Va. waits for his turn during the semi-final round of the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30, 2008 in Washington. Molly Riley—Reuters  Lucas Liner, 14, of Luckey, Ohio struggles to spell "bobadil" in the third round of the National Spelling Bee on June 3, 2010 in Washington. Astrid Riecken—MCT/Getty Images  Samir Patel of Colleyville, Texas struggles to spell the word "eremacausis" during round 7 of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on June 1, 2006 in Washington. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images  Grifton Wright, of Jamaica, grimaces after misspelling "ericeticolous" during the final rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 31, 2012 in in National Harbor, Md. Chuck Myers—MCT/Getty Images  Sidharth Chand, of Pontiac, Mich. reacts after misspelling "apodyterium" during the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 28, 2009 in Washington. Robert Giroux—MCT/Getty Images  Veronica Penny of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, covers up her face as she tries to spell the word "clary" during round four of the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition on May 28, 2009 in Washington. Alex Wong—Getty Images  Sammy Totino, 14, of Chesterland, Ohio, reacts after misspelling the word "ocarina" during the 74th annual National Spelling Bee on May 31, 2001 in Washington. Ann Heisenfelt—AP  Justin Carroll concentrates on the word "synchretized", which he spelled in the final round of the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee on June 1, 1995 in Washington. Jamal A. Wilson—AFP/Getty Images  David Tidmarsh, 14, of South Bend, Indi. peers over his placard after spelling the word "gaminerie" correctly to advance to round 15 during the National Spelling Bee on June 3, 2004 in Washington. Matthew Cavanaugh—Getty Images  Kennyi Aouad, 11, of Terre Haute, Ind., bursts into laughter when asked to spell the word, "sardoodledom," in round three of the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin—AP  Rebecca A. Sealfon, a 13-year-old eighth grade student from Brooklyn, N.Y. celebrates her win in the 70th Annual Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee on May 29, 1997 in Washington. Stephen Jaffe—AFP/Getty Images  Nupur Lala, 14, from Tampa, Fla., reacts to winning the 72nd annual National Spelling Bee after correctly spelling "logorrhea" on June 3, 1999 in Washington. Ron Edmonds—AP  Michael Reiner of Wellsville, Ohio flashes a big grin after correctly spelling "fete" at the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30, 2012 in National Harbor, Md. Chuck Myers—MCT/Getty Images  From left, Dylan O'Connor of Alexandria Bay, N.Y., Tajaun Gibbison of Mandeville, Jamaica, Téa Freedman-Susskind of Redmond, Wash., and Ankita Vadiala of Manassas, Va., celebrate after they qualified for the semifinal round of the National Spelling Bee on May 28, 2014 in Oxon Hill, Md. Evan Vucci—AP  Speller Jacob Williamson, of Cape Coral, Fla., competes in the finals of the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Md. on May 29, 2014. Chuck Myers—MCT /Landov  Family members come on stage with spellers Ansun Sujoe, of Fort Worth, left, and Sriram Hathwar, of Painted Post, N.Y., as they celebrate as co-winners of the the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, Md. on May 29, 2014. 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