WYOMING - If you’ve ever found yourself second-guessing the number of vowels in a word while trying to describe the Grand Tetons, you aren't alone. According to data from early 2026 and previous linguistic studies by platforms like WordUnscrambler, the word that trips up Wyoming residents more than any other is:
Beautiful
(Common misspelling: Beatiful or Beutiful)
It is a bit of a poetic irony: Wyoming is arguably one of the most stunning states in the union, yet its residents struggle to spell the very word used to describe it. "Beautiful" has consistently topped the "how to spell" search queries in Wyoming for several years, likely because the triple-vowel combination of "e-a-u" is a phonetic nightmare.
A History of Spelling Struggles
Wyoming’s spelling hurdles tend to reflect both the times and the unique vocabulary of the West. While "Beautiful" is the reigning champion of confusion, other words have taken the top spot in recent years:
- Quarantine: During the early 2020s, Wyoming joined over a dozen other states in constantly searching for the correct spelling of this word (often hilariously searched as "corn teen").
- Autumn: In 2022, search trends showed a spike in Wyomingites struggling with the silent "n" in the word for their shortest, most colorful season.
- Ornery: In a uniquely regional twist, Wyoming was previously flagged as the only state where the word "ornery" was the top searched spelling. It seems we use the word often to describe stubborn livestock (or neighbors), but can't quite nail down the letters.
Why Do We Struggle With "Beautiful"?
The difficulty lies in the word's French roots. In English, we rarely see three vowels stacked together like "eau," and the "t-i-f-u-l" suffix is often mistaken for "full."
Spelling Tip: To never miss it again, follow the advice popularized by Jim Carrey in Bruce Almighty: Just think "B-E-A-Utiful" (B-E-A-U-tiful). If you remember the "BEAU," you’ve conquered the hardest part.
How Does Wyoming Compare?
While Wyoming is focused on its scenery, neighbors have different battles:
- Colorado: As previously noted, their most searched word is "Sergeant."
- South Dakota & Nebraska: Much like Wyoming, they also frequently find themselves searching for "Beautiful" and "Believe."
- Montana: Often struggles with the word "Every" or "Appreciate."
