Spelling Bee nightmare: C-H-A-N-U-K-K-A-H?!?

Ah!!! 

I imagine myself asking the Spelling Bee proctor...

"Use it in a sentence PLEASE!!!"

Ah!!!

IS the correct spelling

Hanukkah, 

Chanukah,

Hanuka

Chanukkah 

or Hanukah...

?!?!?

In my travels to find as much information to write this weeks GSTQ Hanukkah tribute, I have been on quite the learning adventure! 

For one, I still don't know the correct way to spell Hanukah. 

Turns out that...

Clearly...

NO ONE else does either! 

The question remains:

Why is this darn holiday spelt so many different ways?!?!

Is it Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanuka, Chanukkah,  

Hanukah, or Chhhaaannukah?!?

The word (insert your own personal quirky way of saying it ;)...

is actually a Hebrew word. 

In Hebrew, there is only ONE way to spell Hanukkah. 

Sigh of relief! 

But wait...

Unfortunately, because it is a Hebrew word...it needs to get translated into English. 

Yet...

there is no way to spell the guttural "hecht" sound used in the traditional Hebrew pronunciation. Ch and H are the closest we can get. 

And...

The double k's were added to give more emphasis to the final syllable. 

Resulting in over 14 spelling options that are "technically" correct!!!

FOURTEEN!!!!

Ah!!!

But wait...

New Sigh of Relief...

My Spelling Bee nightmare is actually a Spelling Bee DREAM!!!!

Bc no matter how I spell Hanukkah I would be right! 

:)))

Basically, the spelling is the Hebrew word Sounded Out!!!

So...

The phrase can be spelled 

Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanuka, Chanukkah, or Hanukah...

Don't worry about being proper in the proper spelling of Hanukkah! 

Choose your favorite spelling! 

& No Fear about insulting anyone bc pretty much anyway you spell it you are probably correct ;) 

Just for fun: 

The Hanukkah spelling, is most widely used this year. Hanukkah is a bit easier for English speakers to understand this pronunciation.

Chanukah, is the second most often used spelling and the favorite of traditionalists. I used this spelling when writing to the elders ;)

Today, were you dispelled with the spelling of Hanukkah?!? Hope this cast some light on your spelling woes! 

HAPPY Hanukkah! 

HAPPY Chanukah! 

HAPPY Hanuka! 

HAPPY Chanukkah! 

HAPPY Hanukah! 

HAPPY Chhhaaannukah!!!

However you SPELL it :)))

Xoxo