<p>Dev Shah, a 14-year-old Indian-American eighth-grader from Florida, who correctly spelled the word "psammophile" has won the prestigious 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee.</p>.<p>Shah correctly spelled the word to win the 95th national bee and the USD 50,000 prize on Thursday.</p>.<p>“It’s surreal...My legs are still shaking,” he said at the competition in National Harbor, Maryland.</p>.<p>After much anticipation about a possible spell-off, a smiling Shah won by correctly spelling “psammophile,” a plant or animal that thrives in sandy areas, the <em>Washington Post</em> newspaper reported.</p>.<p>“Psammo meaning sand, Greek?” he asked. “Phile, meaning love, Greek?”</p>.<p>Shah instantly identified the roots of his word, but asked for all the information just to be safe, while smiling slightly in a way that suggested he was pretty sure he had it, the New York Times newspaper reported.</p>.<p>This was Shah's third attempt. His previous two attempts were in 2019 and 2021.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/biden-says-he-got-sandbagged-after-he-trips-falls-onstage-at-us-event-1224108.html" target="_blank">Biden says he got 'sandbagged' after he trips, falls onstage at US event</a></strong></p>.<p>Shah’s parents hopped on stage, visibly emotional, and his mother said he’s been preparing for this for four years.</p>.<p>Eleven students made the finals after 11 million people entered spelling competitions throughout the world.</p>.<p>The preliminary rounds began Tuesday, while the quarterfinals and semifinals took place Wednesday.</p>.<p>Charlotte Walsh, a 14-year-old from Arlington, Virginia, was the runner-up.</p>.<p>The Spelling Bee, which features elementary and middle school students spelling words that would cause most adults to stumble, has had a tumultuous few years. The National Spelling Bee was launched in 1925.</p>.<p>Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the competition was cancelled in 2020, a significant shake-up for what is billed as the US’ largest and longest-running educational programme.</p>.<p>The Bee returned in 2021 but with a few changes.</p>
<p>Dev Shah, a 14-year-old Indian-American eighth-grader from Florida, who correctly spelled the word "psammophile" has won the prestigious 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee.</p>.<p>Shah correctly spelled the word to win the 95th national bee and the USD 50,000 prize on Thursday.</p>.<p>“It’s surreal...My legs are still shaking,” he said at the competition in National Harbor, Maryland.</p>.<p>After much anticipation about a possible spell-off, a smiling Shah won by correctly spelling “psammophile,” a plant or animal that thrives in sandy areas, the <em>Washington Post</em> newspaper reported.</p>.<p>“Psammo meaning sand, Greek?” he asked. “Phile, meaning love, Greek?”</p>.<p>Shah instantly identified the roots of his word, but asked for all the information just to be safe, while smiling slightly in a way that suggested he was pretty sure he had it, the New York Times newspaper reported.</p>.<p>This was Shah's third attempt. His previous two attempts were in 2019 and 2021.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/biden-says-he-got-sandbagged-after-he-trips-falls-onstage-at-us-event-1224108.html" target="_blank">Biden says he got 'sandbagged' after he trips, falls onstage at US event</a></strong></p>.<p>Shah’s parents hopped on stage, visibly emotional, and his mother said he’s been preparing for this for four years.</p>.<p>Eleven students made the finals after 11 million people entered spelling competitions throughout the world.</p>.<p>The preliminary rounds began Tuesday, while the quarterfinals and semifinals took place Wednesday.</p>.<p>Charlotte Walsh, a 14-year-old from Arlington, Virginia, was the runner-up.</p>.<p>The Spelling Bee, which features elementary and middle school students spelling words that would cause most adults to stumble, has had a tumultuous few years. The National Spelling Bee was launched in 1925.</p>.<p>Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the competition was cancelled in 2020, a significant shake-up for what is billed as the US’ largest and longest-running educational programme.</p>.<p>The Bee returned in 2021 but with a few changes.</p>