Faizan Zaki is an Indian origin teenager who recently won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, find out more about him and his parents below
Zaki made headlines after winning the competition, outlasting a total of over 240 top young spellers from across the U.S.
Who is Indian origin Faizan Zaki, winner of 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, biography, age, parents, nationality, ethnicity, school, and religion
13-year-old Faizan Zaki from Allen, Texas spelled the word 'eclaircissement' to win the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee 🔥
He didn't even need to ask a question before spelling it correctly 😤
(🎥 ION, @ScrippsBee) pic.twitter.com/Z2dm8ewCgK
— ESPN (@espn) May 30, 2025
🏆 Faizan Zaki is your 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion!
The 13-year-old, who was last year’s runner-up, took home the Scripps Cup after correctly spelling éclaircissement — outspelling more than 240 students from across the country.
👏 Congrats to Faizan.… pic.twitter.com/KhLwjjkcb0
— Scripps News (@scrippsnews) May 30, 2025
Faizan Zaki wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025
Faizan clinched the championship at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, leaving the crowd in awe with his final word. As confetti fell, he dropped to the floor, overwhelmed with emotion. “I can’t describe it,” he said moments after his win. “It’s amazing. I never expected this.”
Faizan secured the title by correctly spelling the word “éclaircissement” in a dramatic 20th-round faceoff against finalist Sarvadnya Kadam. His victory not only earned him the Scripps Cup but also a $50,000 cash prize and a commemorative medal as he bested over 240 contestants from across the country Thursday night. The young Indian-American “loves words,” according to his mother, Arshia.
Faizan Zaki biography and age
Faizan Zaki is a young teenage Indian-origin American boy who recently won the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025. He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas but his family has roots in Hyderabad. Zaki is currently 13 years old and reportedly developed a love for words through family activities and he was reading by the age of 2, even before he could spell. Aside from spelling, Faizan enjoys playing video games, solving Rubik’s Cubes, spending time with friends, and learning French.
Family
Faizan was born to parents Zaki Anwar and Arshia Quadri, and he comes from a close-knit Muslim family. His parents are very supportive of his academic interests and have always emphasized the importance of learning for its own sake. His mother once recalled how easy it was to support his spelling journey because Zaki “loves learning and words.”
Education
Faizan is a student at CM Rice Middle School who is currently in the seventh grade. Over the years, he has managed to balance academics, extracurriculars, and taking part in competitive spelling competitions.
Faizan Zaki spelling bee journey
Faizan Zaki began his spelling journey at the young age of 7. Zaki has had a persistent spelling bee journey, starting out with his debut at the national level in 2019, where he finished in 370th. Back in 2023, Zaki reached 21st place, and by 2024, he narrowly missed the title. Following that close shave, Zaki doubled down on his efforts and eventually managed to capture the title this year in 2025.