More French Rules/Spelling Bee Club - I Still Need Help!

I am still collecting the French words, but I will add more French rules.

The "et" sound can be spelled ette or et. Helpful Hint: Ette can mean "little one" or "female", while et can mean "small one" and it is masculine. (examples: noisette, heiferette, baronet) Sometimes the word can be pronounced with a schwa, such as rochet and burgonet.

The "ahzh" sound is spelled as age. (examples: maquillage, persiflage, bavardage, vernissage)

The "odd" sound is spelled as ade. (examples: persillade, roulade, boutade)

The "oo" sound can be spelled ou, u, or ieu. Two French members in my choir say that the French should be pronounced almost like ew. (examples: bouffant, fichu, bondieuserie) Helpful Hint: Like in bondieuserie, if you hear the French root dieu, ask this: "Does this contain the French root dieu meaning 'God'?" If it does, spell it, but if it doesn't, probably go with du, but it doesn't hurt to try dieu still. Remember that if the pronouncer says, "I don't see that here", it doesn't necessarily mean you are on the wrong track.

The "air" sound can be spelled aire or air. (examples: legionnaire, debonair)

The "sh" sound can be spelled ch or sh. Helpful Hint: How will you know which one to use, unless you have seen the word (This goes for other French rules, as well)? If the word comes from a different language before entering French, such as Turkish or Hungarian, the spelling will most likely be sh. (examples: chablis, shagreen) Try to look them up.

Remember that there are more spellings for each rule.

Don't French rules seem very annoying? There are thousands of rules and exceptions.

Those are all the French rules I will post today. I will finish up the French section tomorrow, then we'll go to German section. The German rules may take longer than the French rules, because there are a lot of roots that are very helpful.


The spelling bee club planning is still in progress. I still need help and support, so please email me at spellingchamp135@gmail.com. I am working on a schedule, too, and it is a very long process. The club is going to be open to Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Juab, and Wasatch Counties, and any speller who visits the area. Don't worry if you don't live in the area or ever visit, because the sessions will be recorded, and loaded on to this blog!

French Rules/Words

I am very sorry about the French words. Unfortunately, I am still collecting them and the list will not be completed, until about mid-August.

For now, here are some of my favorites:
bertillonage
polatouche
devoir
debonair
decoupage
echappe
echappee
chevet
chevee
ressentiment

Some French tips

The long a sound can be spelled e,ee, ez, et, or ier. (examples: decoupage, suviez, melee, duvet, pompier)

The long e sound can be spelled ee or ie (examples: fricassee, gaminerie)

The ahn sound can be spelled ant, ment, mets, on, emps, in, en, em, or oint and possibly several other ways. (examples: devant, avalement, entremets, frisson, baragouin, malentendu, croquembouche, embonpoint)

The long o sound can be spelled eau, eaux (if it is plural), au, ot, o, or aut. (examples: heaume, Watteaux, gaufrette, escargot, shako*, soubresaut)

*I hope you realized that shako does not start with a c. This word is originally Hungarian, then it entered French, so it starts with s. What Hungarian word was used at the National Spelling Bee this year? Puszta.
What other Hungarian to French words can you name? How about Slavic? (Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, and others)

Those are all the rules I'm going to put up today, but hopefully I will get more in. I was supposed to post the French words before semifinals, but I got too busy.

Good luck to everyone, and continue spelling!

One of My Spelling Bee Lists has about 90% of the Words Used During Semifinals and Finals this Year!

One of my lists I have never made changes to since December 25, 2010, contains a majority of the words used during semifinals and finals this year. After I watched the National Spelling Bee, I was wondering why I knew most of the words. First of all, I thought it was just etymology patterns that ran through my mind. Actually, it was my word list that had a lot of them.

Words that were misspelled will be red

Here are some of them:

caffeol
choralcelo
espadon (I was pretty glad this was on my list, or espadonne would have been my spelling)
devoir
boudin
boutade
haori
mansuetude
andouille
meridienne
rougeot
hexafoos
fissipedal
pallium
limacine
withernam
whirlicote
loure
privatim
solenne
degringolade
volkerwanderung
watteau
entremets
talmouse
seneschal
bondieuserie
cioppino (This word is on several of my lists, because it is on the Nintendo DS game)
rapprochement
zortzico
staffage
gravicembalo
capercaillie
sarangousty
cheongsam (Another word I studied from the DS game as well)
huipil
puszta
solferino
keitloa
zwischenspiel (My cousin's favorite word)
Those five words (the yellow highlighted ones) were used in Round 13.
sorites
empressement
certiorari
rhabdomancer

Again, those were just some of them. These words were just spread all over the list. None of them were by each other. Actually, there were several words used during semifinals and finals that were all by each other.

Here they are in the order I found them:

zanja (Round 15)
naumkeag (Round 17)
cebell (Round 16)
galoubet (Round 17)
Jugendstil (Round 17)
lekane (Round 16)
tersanctus (Round 5)
brisance (Round 5)
hooroosh (Round 18)
sangsue (Round 15)
thalassocracy (Round 7)

I went through the results and list several times, and I have all the words a speller received. They are all highlighted in orange.

The winning word, cymotrichous, is not on the list, but it is on my other lists. Spellers, look for your words!

If I have time tomorrow, I will post French derived words!

Good luck, and continue studying!

Spell with your dream!
Spell with your heart!
Spell with your love!

Warm Weather

Today in Salt Lake, it almost reached 100 degrees. Why am I talking about the weather? I'll be honest, but I do not know. There are several weather words, although.

• anemometer - an instrument to measure the speed or force of the wind
• barometer - instrument that measure air pressure
• blizzard
• climate
• Fahrenheit
• Celsius
• evaporation
• condensation
• precipitation
• contrail - streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes
• drizzle - light rain

The Fourth of July is Nearing/Patriotic Music/Doing Other Things While Spelling

As the Fourth of July approaches, here are Independence Day Words:

• independence
• patriot
• leadership
• fireworks
• freedom
• loyal
• opportunities
• heritage
• history
• kindness
• democracy
• jubilation
• liberation
• republic
• united
• valiance
• sacrifice
• citizenship
• equality
• ebullience
• glory
• heroes

There are just so many Independence Day words, that I cannot post them all. Within the next few days, I will post several words that have to do with patriotism. I will also be posting videos of patriotic songs.

Ronald Reagan's Inauguration (Battle Hymn of the Republic sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

Full Version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic



For those who have seen Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular, you may recognize Kristen Hertzenberg who plays Christine Daae. This is her singing the National Anthem (Star Spangled Banner)

You may be wondering why I chose these artists in particular...

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is my favorite choir, even if I am not a Latter Day Saint. My choir has performed with them many times, including the Cultural Olympiad with John Williams around the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake, the Rededication of the Utah Capitol, a performance with Natalie Cole, and so many more that I probably cannot name them.

I chose Kristen Hertzenberg, because she is my favorite U.S. Christine. I saw her in Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular back in 2009. She has such an amazing voice, that I cried! If you haven't seen her perform live, I suggest that you do.

Why am I talking about this? A lot of spellers love music. They sing, play the violin, flute, piano, saxophone,  and so many more instruments! When I listen to music, I can concentrate on homework, then spelling after. I decided to use this, so I could get used to distractions. I also hula hoop, play with Legos, jump rope, and do other things while spelling, although music is the easiest way for me to concentrate. My mind works better when I am doing other things while spelling.
Continue spelling, and good luck!

Words that Bring Back Memories

There were several words used at the Bee this year that brought back good and bad memories. I will also include the words that were mentioned by spellers and Dr. Bailly in their videos, and maybe words that may be used in the future.

Sardoodledom (2007) Dr. Bailly mentioned this word in his video, and I remember Kennyi Aouad cracking up.

Alopecoid (2004) This was also somewhat mentioned in Dr. Bailly's video, and Akshay Buddiga fainted. It brought back bad memories, but Akshay nailed the word! I also don't believe that I had a friend who witnessed that event.

Weltschmerz (2006) When Anja Beth Swoap received this word, I thought she had it. When I heard it, the 2006 National Spelling Bee popped into my mind. Finola Hackett misspelled this word as veltschmerz, and she placed second. Kerry Close had to spell another word, then Ursprache to take the title that year. Unfortunately, Anja misspelled the word as weldschmerz.

Hukilau (2006) This word was on the written test this year, and it was spelled by Kerry Close in 2006. It was not on any of my lists, but I am glad that I watched the Bee that year! In fact, I never heard from the word again, until the written test.

Pappardelle/Rascacio (2007) Although pappardelle was replaced with cucaracha, this word reminded me of the 2007 Champion, Evan O'Dorney. Rascacio was the first word he received during the championship finals, but was used in Round 3 this year. He did not seem to have problems with any word.

Boudin (2003) The word Samir Patel misspelled when he was only nine! The word was misspelled this year as well.
Words that may bring back memories in the future

Secernent (2008) This word was misspelled by five-peat, Matthew Evans, and many people were heartbroken.

Opificer (2008) This word was misspelled by five-peat, Tia Thomas, and she placed third. On every word before, she seemed to know them all. Well, she asked, "Can I have the California pronunciation?" when she received canicular.

Clevis (2007) Who will ever forget this dreadful moment in Round 5, when five-peat, Samir Patel, misspelled this word? It will bring back good and bad memories if this word is ever used again.

Reblochon (2007) When Sarah Harmsworth of Montana knew she misspelled the word, she said, "I'm gonna ding!" I remember the day before, she said, "Are we on TV?"

Fustanella (2010) Tim Ruiter, who tied for second in 2009, was eliminated in Round 4. People were shocked, and it was very unexpected.

Hebdomadally (2009) I do not know if anyone will remember the moment when Nicholas Rushlow said,"heb-what-a-lee?", but it sure made me laugh.

There are so many more words that bring back memories, but it will take me forever to write them! Good luck to all the spellers next year, and remember to do your best!

The 2012 Bee Arriving Quickly!/Busy Summer

As my teachers say, "Due dates are closer than they appear!". I say, 2012 National Spelling Bee will be here anytime soon! Even if the Bee is over 300 days away, it will be here before you know it! I know that there are some spellers who have not stopped studying since they first competed! Even if I never made it to nationals, I studied every day since 2005, and it was never tiring to learn new words! In fact, my skills improved every year! I have not stopped studying, and will never stop learning new words. Even champions still like to learn new words!

I still hope the Bee can be extended throughout high school! I will still miss it, but my spelling spirit is not gone, and will hopefully never go away! I want to coach spellers still, and hopefully finish the spelling bee club planning by the end of the summer. It is so much harder than I thought it would be. You really need to organize, set dates, plan activities, find a good video camera, get materials prepared, and find time!

Of course, the summer is busy. I do not have a lot of free time, because of the Spelling Bee Club, Bible Bee, and Geometry classes. After my Geometry classes, my family is going to Southern California to go to Seaworld, San Diego Zoo, and Legoland. This is going to be busy, but I hope to have time do my other activities, too! I hope you all have a great summer!

Tips for when you are on stage

• When you get an obscure word that you do not know, and you asked for all the information you could ask for, do not freak out.
• If you think the bell will ring on you, it will most likely do so.
• Concentrate on your word, and use what you know to figure it out.
• Always ask, listen, and think.
• Do not mind all the media, but make sure you act professional.
• Do your best.

Continue spelling, and good luck to every single speller competing next year!