What Words Do Americans Struggle To Spell The Most?

The Scripps Howard Spelling Bee is being held this week in Washington, D.C., and in honor of the big competition, there's a new list out that runs down the top misspelled words in each state. So what can't we spell here in Minnesota?

I don't know about you, but I was once a fairly decent speller. Sure, every now and again, I would have to consult the dictionary to look up how to spell a particular word, but not all that often. These days, though, since the advent of spellcheck and other AI programs, if you can't spell something, what do you do? You hit Google, right?

Minnesota’s Most Misspelled Word in 2026 Revealed

That's what a lot of Minnesotans are doing, and thanks to those searches, we now know just which words we have the toughest time spelling in 2026. New research was conducted by word unscrambling experts at Unscramblerer.com. They analyzed search data from Google Trends for "How do you spell" and "How to spell" from January through May of this year.

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So, just what is the word we can't spell here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes in 2026? Ukulele. That's right, ukulele. Just what is a ukulele, you ask? A ukulele is a small, guitar-like stringed instrument belonging to the lute family, Merriam-Webster says. It typically features four strings made of nylon and is closely associated with Hawaiian music, it noted.

Why Minnesotans Keep Searching How to Spell ‘Ukulele’

Just why are we trying to spell ukulele so much here in the North Star State? Your guess is as good as mine, as the research didn't say. Meanwhile, behind the Cheddar Curtain over in Wisconsin, my fellow Cheeseheads cannot spell 'business.' And down in Iowa, those Hawkeye fans have a tough time with the word 'character.'

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For me personally, I guess I don't have a problem spelling the word ukulelel, but then again, I don't think I've needed to spell it so far this year. However, the word that always trips me up is 'sheriff.' I can never remember if it has two 'r's or two 'f's-- despite the fact that it's on pretty much every Sheriff's Department logo patch and squad car in every county across the state.