With the community’s spelling bee just around the corner, here are some hard-to-conquer words that are all-too-DeKalb-appropriate.

LachanophobiaLa-chan-fo-be-a(noun) Fear of vegetables, such as corn, soy beans or more corn.

MalfeasanceMal-fez-ents(noun) Wrongdoing or misconduct, especially by a public official.

LupusLu-pas(noun) Latin species name for wolf … not Wolfe.

MonotonousMo-not-o-nous(adj.) Routine, as if containing a similar and constant drone.

CardinalCar-din-al(adj.) A variation of the color red.

PanhellenicPan-hel-len-ic(adj.) Relating to the Greek-letter sororities or fraternities in America.

ValedictorianVa-le-dic-tor-i-an(noun) Graduate with top GPA, like Cindy Crawford was at DHS in 1984.

WintWint(noun) Old high-German origin of the word “wind.”

De LucaDe- Lu-Ca(noun) Fred De Luca is the founder of Subway Sandwiches, the restaurant that has five locations in DeKalb.