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National Spelling Bee
Registration

Register now for the 2012 AARP National Spelling Bee. The Bee is Friday, August 10th and Saturday, August 11th, in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Open to anyone 50 or older, the contest will entertain and challenge you. Need more motivation? You'll meet like-minded people, test your orthographic skills against some of the best spellers in the nation and compete for a top prize. Register now

Not sure you're ready for our National Spelling Bee? Discuss spelling, word games and the bee with other readers on our message board. Do

Read the 2012 Rules & Regulations

About The
AARP National Spelling Bee

The AARP National Spelling Bee was created in 1996 by a group of AARP members in Cheyenne, Wyo., who wanted a fun way to challenge their peers to keep their minds sharp as they age. The competition has been held every year since, and always in Cheyenne. A group of dedicated volunteers select the words, write the sentences, organize and promote the event. Spellers travel from across America to showcase a lifetime of knowledge and to celebrate their years of experience.

2011
Highlights

Tony Johnson (cq, 7), from Lagrange, Georgia, spells a word during the finals of the AARP National Spelling Bee for people aged 50 years and older at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Saturday, June 18, 2011. Johnson won the competition.

Tony Johnson Wins 2011 Bee

He might have been No. 7 but luck had nothing to do with Tony Johnson capturing the 2011 AARP National Spelling Bee. Watch

Tony Johnson, from Lagrange, Georgia, at the AARP National Spelling Bee for people aged 50 years and older at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Saturday, June 18, 2011. His word, logolept, is a person who is obsessed with words.

Spelling Bee Highlights

View a slide show highlighting moments from the 2011 spelling bee and see the list of finalists. Watch

Prepare & Study

2011 AARP National Spelling Bee Wordlist

Practice with the complete list from last year's bee or download the pdf version! Read

Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day gives you interesting words to learn every day! Soon you'll be the consummate wordsmith. Receive daily emails now. Do

Boost Your Brain!

We've got lots of fun activities, interesting articles and advice to help you sharpen your mind! Let the brain-teasing begin! Learn

Helpful
Resources

How to Tweet During the Spelling Bee

By Don Willmott

Which words stumped the contestants? Who made it through to the next round? Keep up with the AARP Spelling Bee by Twittering. Don't know how? This article will help you learn. Read

Plan Your Trip to the 2012 Spelling Bee

Find out about all the events associated with the 2012 AARP National Spelling Bee in Cheyenne, Wyo. read

Previous
Winners

2010

2010 Video and Finalists

After 67 rounds and 479 words, Scott Firebaugh, 56, of Knoxville, Tenn., was the last man standing to win the 2010 AARP National Spelling Bee. Watch

2010 Photos

View a slideshow of moments from the 2010 spelling bee and see the list of finalists. Watch

2009

2009 Video Highlights

With the audience biting their nails, Michael Petrina Jr. of Arlington, Va., and Scott Firebaugh of Knoxville, Tenn., battled dramatically before one of them finally missed a word in the 46th round. See the winning moment. Watch

2009 Photos and Finalists

2009 National Spelling Bee Photos and Finalists

Spellers travel from across the country to compete in the AARP National Spelling Bee, which is open to anyone age 50 or older. See some snapshots of the action at the annual contest. Watch

2008

2008 Photos and Finalists

Larry Grossman's high-school math students helped him study for and win the 2008 Bee. If Grossman missed a word, he bought the student a can of pop. He learned quickly. See photo highlights and a list of all finalists. Watch

2007

1. Susan Hartner, 62, Hillsboro, Oregon (winning word: bharal)
2. Randy Hilfman, 56, Woodinville, Wash. (vizsla)
3. Michael Petrina Jr., 62, Arlington, Va. (towhee)
4. Marlene Harry, Brownsburg, Ind. (gluhwein)
5. Rodney Murray, 53, Middletown, Del. (arrhythmia)
6. Joe Dickmann, 63, Richmond Heights, Mo. (zoisite)
7. Steve Dornseif, 58, Fort Collins, Colo. (paresthesia)
8. L. Kaleo Elia, 59, Salt Lake City, Utah (lithotripsy)
9. Terry Harsney, Fairlawn, Ohio (alula)
10. Bill Long, 54, Salem, Ore. (troupial)
11. James Pearce, 60, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (verruca)
12. Darrell Noe, 64, Arlington, Texas (chukar)
13. Larry Grossman, 54, Northwood, N.D. (urticaria)
14. Mary McClintock, 62, Fort Collins, Colo., (corrigendum)
15. Mary Ann Hungerford, 55, Granville, Ohio (hornswoggle)

2006

1. Hal Prince, 54, Palo Alto, Calif.
2. Darrell Noe, 63, Arlington, Texas (scorpaenid)
3. Bill Long, 53, Salem, Ore. (tryptophan)
4. Tom Lavery, 62, Akron, Ohio (crossopterygian)
5. Nancy Leasure, 67, Danville, Calif. (hamantaschen)
6. Mary Kay Hemmer, 57, Cheyenne, Wyo. (zucchetto)
7. Linda Goertz, 58, Portland, Ore. (exsiccate)
8. Polly Stewart, 62, Salt Lake City, Utah (younker)
9. Julie Golden, 66, Portland, Ore. (komatik)
10. Scott Firebaugh, 52, Kokomo, Ind. (phillumenist)
11. Lenore Collins, 66, Mentor, Ohio (oligophagous)
12. Rev. Steve Hislop, 59, Grand Junction, Colo. (myrmidons)
13. Judy Parsons, 60, York, Penn. (parthenogenesis)
14. Jason Blake, 67, Roslyn, Wash. (trousseaux)
15. Linda Ott, 57, Fort Collins, Colo. (rickettsia)
16. Reta Lorenz, 86, Laramie, Wyo. (trichotillomania)

2005

1. David Riddle
2. Bill Long (cappelletti)
3. LaRae Lawson (passementerie)
4. Patricia Hanson (phillumenist)
5. Lenore Collins (urceolate)
6. Charles Underwood (kakiemon)
7. Debra Griffin (opprobrium)
8. Sue Carlass (pichlorohydrin)
9. Debra Rotroff (tarsometatarsus)
10. Brian Greene (atherosclerosis)
11. Mary Kay Hemmer (frugivorous)
12. Ruth Wright (epistemology)
13. Andrea Coelho (entelechy)
14. MT Casey (legerdemain)
15. John Haniszewski (schizophrenia)
16. Laura Steele (quercitron)