06 Jul The 10 longest words in the dictionary – and how to pronounce them
The English language constantly evolves, with more than 700 new words, phrases and senses being added in the latest Oxford English Dictionary (OED) update.
From TikTok slang to the downright bizarre, you’d be surprised to know about the sorts of words that even have a place in the dictionary.
Placing the focus on the bizarre, the language experts at Preply have revealed what the longest words in the dictionary are, as well as what they mean and how to pronounce them.
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (45 letters)
Taking the crown for the longest word in standard dictionaries is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Made up of a staggering 45 letters, this word refers to 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”
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (36 letters)
Being the second longest word in the dictionary, it is ironic that hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the name for a fear of long words.
Pronunciation
“Hi-poh-po-toh-mon-stroh-ses-kwee-peh-dah-leejoh-foh-beejah”
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (34 letters)
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”
Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (30 letters)
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”
Floccinaucinihilipilification (29 letters)
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”
Antidisestablishmentarianism (28 letters)
History enthusiasts 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”
Honorificabilitudinitatibus (27 letters)
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”
Thyroparathyroidectomized (25 letters)
Thyroparathyroidectomized refers to the surgical removal of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
Pronunciation
“Thy-ro-para-thy-ro-dec-tom-ized”
Dichlorodifluoromethane (23 letters)
What do you call a colourless nonflammable gas that is liquefied by pressure? Dichlorodifluoromethane.
Pronunciation
“Dahy-klawr-oh-dahy-floo r-oh-meth-eyn”
Incomprehensibilities (21 letters)
Finally moving on to the more pronounceable words, incomprehensibilities refers to the state of being impossible or very difficult to understand.
Pronunciation
“In-compre-hen-sibil-ities “
