Abandoned Accents
The Spelling Bee lexicon includes many words that are usually spelled with diacritics or characters not in the English alphabet, including one or two words that make very frequent appearances.
Merriam-Webster advises that "In English, words having diacritics are borrowings from other languages, and the marks are not a natural part of the English language itself. However, lexicographers have adopted diacritics to indicate English pronunciation and, of course, to show word etymologies. Although the English borrowings enter the language with their markings, they are often dropped from many spellings through Anglicization."
And that is why it is acceptable for the Spelling Bee to include these words without their accents or special characters, because in American English (the language on which the Spelling Bee is based), those words are not always spelled the same as they are in their languages of origin. And of course, the design of the puzzle does not permit for entry of any letters other than simple A-Z (sans S).
Here's a partial list of Bee words that (outside the Bee) are often or sometimes spelled with accents, diacritical marks, or special characters; there are probably many others. Updated 2024-11-07
And that is why it is acceptable for the Spelling Bee to include these words without their accents or special characters, because in American English (the language on which the Spelling Bee is based), those words are not always spelled the same as they are in their languages of origin. And of course, the design of the puzzle does not permit for entry of any letters other than simple A-Z (sans S).
Here's a partial list of Bee words that (outside the Bee) are often or sometimes spelled with accents, diacritical marks, or special characters; there are probably many others. Updated 2024-11-07
ABANDONED ACCENTS in the Spelling Bee Lexicon
acai – also spelled as açaiattache – attachébrulot – brûlotcafe – cafécanape – canapé
chateau – châteauchateaux – châteauxcliche – clichécliched – clichédcuracao – curaçaodebut – débutdebuted – débuteddetente – détenteeclat – éclatelan – élan epee – épéeetouffee – étoufféefiance – fiancéfiancee – fiancéegateau – gâteaugelee – geléeglace – glacémelee – mêléepinata – piñata
Some Bee words can be spelled with or without the diacritics or special letters; their meanings change, of course. Here is a selection of these pairs:
bombé – with the accent: having outward curving lines (usually used of furniture)bombe – without the accent: a dessert
cañon – with the tilde: a canyoncanon – without the tilde: a musical form, a clergyman, religious law, body of literature, etc.
colón – with the accent, the basic monetary unit of Costa Ricacolon – without the accent: an anatomical term
coupé – with the accent: the vehicle or carriagecoupe – without the accent: a cocktail glass
etc.
Some Bee words can be spelled with or without the diacritics or special letters; their meanings change, of course. Here is a selection of these pairs:
bombé – with the accent: having outward curving lines (usually used of furniture)bombe – without the accent: a dessert
cañon – with the tilde: a canyoncanon – without the tilde: a musical form, a clergyman, religious law, body of literature, etc.
colón – with the accent, the basic monetary unit of Costa Ricacolon – without the accent: an anatomical term
coupé – with the accent: the vehicle or carriagecoupe – without the accent: a cocktail glass
etc.