The term “spelling bee” is an interesting name that has nothing to do with the insect. No vendors are selling honeycomb, there’s no mandatory black and yellow dress code, and the only buzzing is probably coming from an incandescent light hanging overhead. So how did spelling bees get their name? Using “bee” to describe communal gatherings intended to accomplish a specific goal entered the collective lexicon in the 18th century.
“Bee” was used in this specific context by 1769, referring to an “informal social gathering … organized to carry out a specific activity.” The reason for the term “bee” is unclear, though there are theories. According to Scripps National Spelling Bee — the preeminent U.S. spelling competition — the term is derived from the Middle English “bene,” which translates to “a prayer or favor.” As the English language evolved, “bene” became “been,” used in reference to any help that was given toward accomplishing a task. It’s believed “been” was shortened to “bee,” which is where the modern term comes from. However, this is just a linguistic theory that’s difficult to confirm one way or the other. The word “bee” as an insect has been in use since at least 13th-century Old English writings.
The first published mention of a communal bee came in the Boston Gazette. It referenced a group of women meeting for a “Spinning Match; (or what is call’d in the Country a Bee)” to produce cottons and linens. Soon people were gathering for quilting bees, drinking bees, sewing bees, and more. In 1850, the term “spelling bee” appeared in print in The Knickerbocker magazine. It made mention of spelling bees occurring at schools in the country, implying these events were already considered common at the time.
In 2025, the Scripps National Spelling Bee will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Schools can apply for entry through January 31, 2025, so there’s still time to get onstage at the most prestigious spelling bee in the world.
