Scripps National Spelling Bee 2009

Can you spell propiophenone and terebinthinate correctly? Probably not. But watch these young minds at the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2009 spell the words with ease. It was the third round of the Spelling Bee competition Wednesday afternoon and words are getting tougher and tougher.

Derek Chan of Hope Mills spelled “propiophenone” correctly. Nivesh Varma of Lillington spelled “terebinthinate” spot on before an audience in Washington D.C.

Here are the meanings of the words:

– Propiophenone is a flowery-smelling chemical compound used in the manufacture of perfume.

– Terebinthinate is to impregnate with the qualities of turpentine.

Now do you think you can spell those words if it were you? I am afraid I’d be eliminated on the first round.