Do you use any of these often?

Very few manage to spell these 12 words correctly: What about you?

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As great as it is, the English language can be tricky. If all of its words were easy to spell, there would be no spelling bee contests. But they do exist. The downside of having words for almost everything is that the level of complexity usually grows as the word becomes more specific. Take a look at the following 12. Do you use any of these?

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This tricky word means "indigenous" or "native" and often trips people up. Its Greek origin, length, and three "th" sounds make it a tough one in spelling bees.

A good idea for children looking to master complicated words is to get familiar with Greek-derived words and their patterns, such as "auto," meaning self.

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A tricky medical term used to define a drug replacement, this word throws spellers off with its double "c" and odd suffix. Remembering the root "succeed" can help with the start.

As not all double letters are pronounced differently from single ones, this is one of the biggest challenges anyone at a spelling bee contest faces.

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"Cymotrichous" is a rare word that means wavy-haired and comes from the Greek language.

The spelling bee aficionado should remember that the first part, "cymo", means wave, and the second part, "trichous," means hair.

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This incredibly complicated word, one of the longest in the English language, means describing something as worthless. It often stumps spellers with its length and complexity.

To tackle it successfully, break it into smaller parts and take it syllable by syllable.

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This long word refers to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Its Greek roots and length make it tough to spell.

A spelling aficionado should break it into parts like "oto," "rhino," "laryngo," and "logist" to make it easier.

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This word describes a musical term. It is a sixty-fourth note and is tough due to its length and structure.

To make it easier on themselves, spelling bee contestants should break it into parts: "hemi," "demi," and "semi."

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Asceticism means avoiding indulgences or temptations, often for religious reasons. It’s about living simply and with discipline.

While not as long as some of the previous examples, this word can be tricky due to the "sc" at the start and the use of "s" and "c" within different syllables of the word.

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Crustaceology is the study of crustaceans like crabs and shrimp. It’s a branch of marine biology.

As with many of the examples above, the spelling difficulty of this word is given by the fact that it is very seldom used, unless you are a specialist in the matter.

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The word hydrophyte refers to a plant that grows in or on water. These plants thrive in aquatic environments.

The complexity of its spelling lies in the two "y" and two "h" letters, which should be placed correctly by the spellers.

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This word is used to describe the specific items needed for an activity. It’s often misspelled because of how people pronounce it.

This common mistake happens when it is pronounced "para-fa-NEEL-ia," dropping the second "r" and changing the vowel sounds. Spellers should pay attention to this to avoid the same mistake.

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This word can refer either to a county in England or a tangy sauce made with vinegar, sugar, and spices.

It’s tricky because it’s pronounced "wu-stur-shr," which doesn’t really match its long spelling. Anyone attempting to spell it correctly should pay attention to its complex lettering.

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This ridiculously complex word is an apt closer to our list, since it describes the fear of long words. And, while probably no spelling bee contestant has this kind of fear, he or she would probably have a hard time spelling this one.

This word has 36 letters in total. Among them, 6 "p", 7 "o", and 2 "h". How’s that for a spelling bee word?

Enrich your vocabulary

Been called "comely"? Congrats! 10 rare adjectives you'll want to use

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Adjectives help us describe just about everything: objects, situations, experiences, and even feelings. While our everyday go-to words are fine, it never hurts to add some variety, right? Whether you want to sound a little more refined, impress your friends, or bring back some long-forgotten words, this article is for you!

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If someone uses this adjective to describe you, lucky you! "Comely" means attractive or appealing, often in appearance, but it can also refer to something pleasant in general. It's a refined way to say someone is nice to look at. Do you know anyone who's comely?

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Did you have that classmate in school who was always bothering others? Or maybe you know someone who makes daily life a bit more difficult? The perfect word for those people might be "irksome," an unusual and expressive way to describe someone or something irritating.

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Life is full of complicated situations that call for wise decision-making. In times like these, it’s great to have a "sagacious" person by your side. This adjective describes someone wise and insightful, who shows good judgment. But it's not just for people! Advice or actions can be sagacious too.

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A person who always prefers to save money or spend as little as possible can be described as "parsimonious." This adjective refers to someone who is careful and often meticulous about their spending, usually choosing to save for other priorities.

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This word is the opposite of parsimonious. "Munificent" describes extremely generous people, whether with money, gifts, or simple acts of kindness. People like that deserve our gratitude!

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Do your kids or grandkids refuse to listen to you? Try teaching them this word! While "contumacious" is often used in formal or legal settings—like in court—it can describe anyone who is openly defiant and rebellious, refusing to follow orders, rules, or regulations.

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Pride and arrogance aren't exactly the most appealing traits, but there’s a fitting adjective to describe such traits: "hubristic." It comes from the Greek word hubris, often used in ancient tragedies to describe excessive pride that generally led to a character's downfall.

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Do you love to talk non-stop? Are you the one who takes the mic at weddings to say a few words? If so, "loquacious" is the perfect word for you. This adjective describes someone who talks a lot—someone who wouldn’t think twice about chatting all the way up 10 floors in an elevator with a total stranger!

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When something is described as "salubrious," it means it's beneficial to your health and well-being. This could be anything from the food you eat to a daily habit, a clean environment, or even a positive relationship. In short, if it’s good for your health, it’s salubrious!

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We all know that one friend or family member who gets irritated and moody over the smallest things. If you do, too—or if you are that person—"petulant" is the perfect word to describe them.