• Newsfeed
  • viral

Wheel of Fortune Contestant Mispronounces ‘Achilles,’ Misses Chance at Million Dollar Prize

1 minute read

A contestant named Julian kept getting very close to winning big on Friday’s episode of Wheel of Fortune –– but then he just kept messing up big.

First, the University of Indiana freshman lost his chance to play for $1 million when he bungled the answer “Mythological Hero Achilles.” All the letters were turned over, so it seemed like he had this one in the bag. But when he went to solve the puzzle, he pronounced Achilles like “A-chill-us.”

The three seconds of deafening silence that followed were heartbreaking. Eventually Pat let Julian know that they couldn’t accept that, and the next contestant eagerly swooped in.

Unfortunately, Julian makes a few more blunders as the episode rolls on. For example, he guesses “on-the-spot dicespin” (what?) instead of “on-the-spot decision,” again allowing the contestant to his left to swoop in once more.

Looks like we now know what Julian’s Achilles’ heel is.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com