Faizan Zaki wins Scripps National Spelling Bee a year after coming in 2nd

"Éclaircissement" was the winning word, but for Faizan Zaki it spelled success.

"Éclaircissement" was the winning word, but for Faizan Zaki it spelled success.

The seventh grader from Dallas won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, after last year having come in second place on the big stage.

Faizan, 13, showed little hesitation as he spelled "éclaircissement," which means the clearing up of something obscure, in the final word to win the title of national spelling champ.

He fell to the stage in joy as confetti rained down.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m just really happy,” he said.