The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- John Furner
Whether it’s ‘plethora’ or ‘resplendent’, many of us have a few fancy words in our arsenal that we bring out when we want to impress our friends.
But if you really want to dazzle your pals, these impressively long words are just the ticket.
Experts from Preply have scoured the latest Oxford English Dictionary for the 10 longest words.
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis takes the crown as the longest word, made up of a staggering 45 letters.
Here, we reveal the 10 longest words, as well as their meanings and how to pronounce them.
Experts from Preply have scoured the latest Oxford English Dictionary for the 10 longest words. Here, we reveal them, as well as their meanings and how to pronounce them
1. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Length: 45 letters
Meaning: A lung disease triggered by breathing in very fine silicate or quartz dust
Pronunciation: Nyoo·muh·now·uhl·truh·mai·kruh·sko·puhk·si·luh·kow·vol·kay·now·kow·nuh·ow·suhs
2. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
Length: 36 letters
Meaning: Ironically, hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the name for a fear of long words
Pronunciation: Hi-poh-po-toh-mon-stroh-ses-kwee-peh-dah-leejoh-foh-beejah
3. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Length: 34 letters
Meaning: A term coined by our favourite British nanny Mary Poppins, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious refers to something extraordinarily good or wonderful
Pronunciation: Soo·puh·ka·luh·fra·juh·luh·stuh·kek·spee·a·luh·dow·shuhs
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis takes the crown as the longest word, made up of a staggering 45 letters. It’s a lung disease triggered by breathing in very fine silicate or quartz dust (stock image)
4. Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
Length: 30 letters
Meaning: In the medical world, pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism is an inherited condition that causes short stature, round face, and short hand bones
Pronunciation: Pseu‧do‧pseu‧do‧hy‧po‧par‧a‧thy‧roid‧ism
5. Floccinaucinihilipilification
Length: 29 letters
Meaning: Floccinaucinihilipilification refers to the act or habit of categorising something as having no value or being worthless. Despite its meaning, the word is generally used in a humorous context.
Pronunciation: Flok-si-naw-si-ni-hi-li-pi-li-cay-shun
A term coined by our favourite British nanny Mary Poppins, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious refers to something extraordinarily good or wonderful
6. Antidisestablishmentarianism
Length: 28 letters
Meaning: History buffs may already know this, but antidisestablishmentarianism refers to a political movement in 19th-century Britain that was determined to separate the Church and the state
Pronunciation: An·tee·di·suh·sta·bluhsh·muhn·teuhree·uh·ni·zm
7. Honorificabilitudinitatibus
Length: 27 letters
Meaning: Derived from Medieval Latin, honorificabilitudinitatibus refers to the ‘state of being able to achieve honours’
Pronunciation: Ho·no·ri·fi·ka·bi·li·tu·di·ni·ta·ti·bus
8. Thyroparathyroidectomized
Length: 25 letters
Meaning: Thyroparathyroidectomized refers to the surgical removal of the thyroid and parathyroid glands
Pronunciation: Thy·ro·para·thy·ro·dec·tom·ized
Thyroparathyroidectomized refers to the surgical removal of the thyroid and parathyroid glands (stock image)
9. Dichlorodifluoromethane
Length: 23 letters
Meaning: A colourless nonflammable gas that is liquefied by pressure
Pronunciation: Dahy·klawr·oh·dahy·floor·oh·meth·eyn
10. Incomprehensibilities
Length: 21 letters
Meaning: Incomprehensibilities refers to the state of being impossible or very difficult to understand
Pronunciation: In·com·pre·hen·sib·il·ities
