A young student from Texas who correctly spelled the word "taoiseach" has been named co-champion of the US Scripps National Spelling Bee along with a student from New York.

Nihar Janga, an 11-year-old from Austin, dazzled the audience by his grasp of words. He is the youngest champion since 2002.

Given "taoiseach," he said: "Is that an Irish word for prime minister?"

He then correctly spelled the word, bringing cheers from the crowd.

When given "biniou," he asked pronouncer Jacques Bailly, "Is that a Breton bagpipe?" then whizzed through it with head down, hands at side and shifting slightly foot to foot.

The late-night duel twice saw Nihar fail to capitalise on mistakes by 13-year-old Jairam Hathwar, from New Yorker, and claim the title outright.

They ended co-winners when Jairam spelled "feldenkrais," a method of education, and Nihar aced "gesellschaft," a type of social relationship.

"I'm just speechless," Jairam told reporters after the contest that repeatedly saw the audience in a hotel ballroom burst into cheers.

Nihar thanked his mother and added: "I can't say anything. I'm just in fifth grade."

Jairam and Nihar will each receive a $40,000 (€35,800) cash prize.

The tie is the third in a row in the Bee, a US institution since 1925.

The contest had instituted a 25-round spell-off to try and avoid just such a deadlock.

Jairam created an opening for Nihar when he stumbled on "drahthaar," a king of dog.

Nihar then missed "ayacahuite," a Mexican tree, giving Jairam new life.

"Hello again," Jairam said to Bailly when he stepped up to the microphone. Even as the boys battled head to head, they gave each other encouraging hand slaps as they returned from the microphone.

After several more rounds, Jairam misspelled "mischsprache," a fused language.

Nihar failed again to knock him out by missing "tetradrachm," a kind of coin.

One more round, and Bailly said, "This is a beautiful moment. If you both spell the next word correctly, you will be declared co-champions."

They did, and the room erupted in confetti and cheers.