For the long time, lexicographers have been debating about the legitimacy of certain words as possible entrants to the English dictionary. For me, the longer the word and the more the number of syllables in it, the more interesting it becomes. Find out some of the most exquisitely coined words in the English language from this article.
Longest word
Methionylthreonylthreonylglutaminylarginyl […] isoleucine
Here’s the deal: the world’s longest English word has exactly 189,819 letters in it and it takes 3 hours and 33 minutes to pronounce it completely!
Wondering what commands such an enormous (literally) honor? Well, it is the chemical name of the world’s largest known protein called titin or connectin. It is made up of 244 individually folded protein domains which in turn are connected by unstructured peptide sequences (largest known polypeptide containing 34,350 amino acids in the human body). Fascinating as the name of this wonder is, there exists some debate as to whether this technical term can actually be considered a word. But even then, mesmerizing it is, isn’t it? And guess what? Here in this article, you will actually get to see this ginormous word if you read on.
But even otherwise, the English language is a huge storehouse of long words that I find rather satisfying to pronounce. They are grand tongue twisters that make perfect sense. Two of my favorite words for the longest time have been inconsequential and quintessentially. I am psychologically satiated to the hilt every time I utter them and utter them a lot I do. But there are other words that are very rarely used and even more rarely heard of. Let’s check some of them out below. If you love the language and lap up trivia like there’s no tomorrow, this is a train ride you should definitely not miss.
A
1. Ablutophobia: Fear of washing or having a bath
2. Absorbefacient: Inducing or boosting absorption
3. Adiathermancy: Impervious to radiant heat or infrared radiation or unaffected by heat waves
4. Agglutination: The construction of words from component morphemes that retain their form and meaning in spite of the blending
5. Arachibutyrophobia: One having fear about peanut butter sticking to the mouth roof
6. Aurantiaceous: Appertaining to oranges or orange trees
7. Automatonophobia: One having fear about dummies, animatronic creatures, statues of wax
8. Autothaumaturgist: A person who exudes an air of mystery around himself consciously; someone pretending to be an enigma
9. Autotonsorialist: A person who cuts his own hair
10. Automysophobia: Fear of getting dirty
B
1. Ballistocardiograph: An instrument which is used to detect body movements caused by heartbeats
2. Bathythermograph: An instrument that is used for recording water temperature as compared to depth
3. Batrachomyomachy: A military engagement between frogs and mice
4. Batrachophagous: A person who eats frogs
5. Bicrescentic: Having the structure of a double crescent
6. Blandiloquence: A flattery or complimentary speech
7. Brachydactylous: Having abnormally short and blunt fingers and toes
8. Brobdingnagian: Colossal
9. Bouleversement: An overturning; ruination
10. Boustrophedon: An ancient method of writing in which one line is written from left to right and the next from right to left and so on.
C
1. Cacodemomania: Pathological belief of one being inhabited by an evil spirit
2. Caesaropapism: Secular ruler having control of the church
3. Catapedamania: Obsession with jumping from high places
4. Cephalonomancy: A kind of divination formerly practiced to detect guilt in a convict by boiling the skull of an ass and checking for any cracking of the skull or movement of the lower jaw
5. Ceruminiferous: Carrying or yielding earwax
6. Chaetophorous: Setigerous or bristle-bearing
7. Cheiloproclitic: One who is attracted to lips
8. Cholangiocholecystocholedochectomy: Process of surgically removing the hepatic duct and gallbladder
9. Chronosynchronicity: Presenting a person’s life in all the stages through a single piece of art
10. Cycloganoidei: Ganoid fish with cycloid scales
D
1. Dactylopterous: A state where the inferior rays of the pectoral fins are entirely or partially detached from the body
2. Defecaloesiophobia: Fear of painful defecation
3. Dendrochronology: Study of tree rings
4. Deorsumversion: Turning downwards
5. Dermatoglyphics: Study of fingerprints and skin patterns
6. Dermatopathophobia: Fear of dermal ailments
7. Didaskaleinophobia: Fear of going to school
8. Dishabiliophobia: Fear of undressing in front of another person
9. Dolichocephalic: Long-headed
10. Dysmorphophobia: Having the fear of physical deformities
E
1. Ecclesiasticus: An Apocryphal book
2. Edriophthalmous: Concerning the Edriophthalma
3. Electroencephalograph: An instrument for measuring the brain’s electrical impulses
4. Electrodynamometer: An instrument for measuring electric current
5. Eleutherophobia: Fear of freedom
6. Epiphenomenalism: Doctrine that mental processes are epiphenomena of brain activity
7. Ephemeromorph: Form of life that is neither animal nor plant
8. Epistaxiophobia: Fear of epistaxises or bleeding noses
9. Ethnomethodology: The study of sociological codes and conventions that underlie everyday social communication and interactions
10. Extemporaneousness: Lack of foresight
F
1. Febrifacient: That which renders feverish
2. Ferriprussiate: A ferricyanate; a ferricyanide
3. Flagelliferous: Bearing a whip or flagellum
4. Flibbertigibbet: Gossipy person, usually referring to a young woman
5. Fibriophobia: Having fear of fever
6. Fibrochondrosteal: Partly fibrous, partly cartilaginous, and partly bony or osseous
7. Fissigemmation: A process of reproduction that intercedes fission and gemmation
8. Forisfamiliation: The act of liberating oneself from parental authority
9. Frankalmoigne: Tenure by free alms
10. Frumentaceous: Resembling wheat or other grain
G
1. Galactodensimeter: Instrument used to measure the density of milk
2. Gastroduodenitis: Swelling of the stomach and duodenum
3. Gastrohysterotomy: Cæsarean section
4. Generalissimo: The Chief Commander of an army
5. Gephydrophobia: Fear of crossing bridges
6. Germanophilia: Love or fondness for Germany or for the Germans
7. Gluconeogenesis: Production of glucose from non-carbohydrates
8. Graminivorous: Feeding on grass or cereals
9. Grammaticaster: A piddling grammarian
10. Gynotikolobomassophile: One nibbling a woman’s earlobes
H
1. Haematogenesis: Production of blood
2. Haematodynamometer: An instrument to measure arterial or venous blood pressure
3. Haussmannize: To rebuild
4. Hellenologophobia: Fear of Greek terms or complex scientific nomenclature
5. Helioseismology: Study of wave oscillations in the sun
6. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia: Fear of the number six hundred sixty-six
7. Honorificabilitudinitatibus: One bearing honorableness
8. Honorificabilitudinity: Honorableness
9. Hydrometeorology: Study of atmospheric moisture
10. Hypercatalectic: Having an extra syllable at the end of a verse
I
1. Iatromathematics: Archaic practice of medicine in conjunction with astrology
2. Ichthyophagous: Fish-eating
3. Ichthyophthalmite: A hydrous silicate of calcium and potassium relating to zeolites
4. Immarcescible: Not perishable
5. Immunopathology: Study of immunity to disease
6. Incircumscriptible: Incapable of being restricted
7. Incomprehensibleness: Impossible to know or fathom
8. Interramification: Intertwining of branches
9. Interstratification: Alternative layering of two or more types of clay minerals
10. Ithyphallophobia: Fear of aroused male genitalia
J
1. Jaculiferous: Bearing arrow-like thorns
2. Japanophilia: Love or admiration for Japan or the Japanese
3. Japanophobia: Fear of Japanese
4. Johannisberger: A fine white wine produced on the estate of Schloss Johannisberg, on the river Rhine
5. Jouissance: Merriment
6. Judeophobia: Fear of Jewish people
7. Juglandaceous: Liking or pertaining to walnuts
8. Jungermanniaceae: A genus of hepatic mosses
9. Jurisprudential: Pertaining to the science of juridical law
10. Juxtaposition: The act of positioning two or more things adjacent to each other
K
1. Kakorrhaphiophobia: Fear of failure
2. Katagelophobia: Fear of ridicule
3. Katathermometer: Instrument used to measure the cooling power of air
4. Katsaridaphobia: Fear of cockroaches
5. Kephalonomancy: Divination using a baked head of an ass or a goat
6. Keraunophobia (or Ceraunophobia): Fear of lightning and thunder
7. Kinetheodolite: Type of theodolite used to track missiles and satellites
8. Knickerbockers: Loose breeches ending above the knee
9. Knickknackatory: A collection of baubles and trifles
10. Kosmikophobia: Fear of cosmic phenomenon
L
1. Lamellibranchiata: Class of gastropods with bivalve shells
2. Laryngotracheotomy: Surgery involving cutting into the larynx and the upper part of the trachea
3. Latitudinarianism: Doctrine of broad liberality in religious belief or conduct
4. Lautenclavicymbel: Lute harpsichord with gut strings instead of metal
5. Lautverschiebung: The regular alterations undergone by the primitive Indo-European stops or mute consonants in the Teutonic languages since third century BC
6. Lepidopterology: Study about butterflies and moths
7. Leucocytogenesis: Formation of leukocytes
8. Lexicographical: Pertaining to the art of making a dictionary or lexicon
9. Libanophorous: Producing incense
10. Logizomechanophobia: Fear of computers
M
1. Machiavellianism: The doctrines of Niccolò Machiavelli as written in his book Il Principe (“The Prince”) wherein political expediency is exalted above morality and the use of cunning and deceit in statecraft to maintain authority or to effectuate policy is commended
2. Macrocephalous: Having a large head
3. Margaritomancy: Divination using pearls
4. Maschalephidrosis: Excessive sweating of the armpits
5. Mechanotherapist: A practitioner who medically treats by employing mechanical practices, such as massaging
6. Medomalacuphobia: Fear of losing an erection
7. Metathesiophobia: Fear of changes
8. Microminiaturization: Construction of something on a scale which is smaller than miniature
9. Micropalaeontology: Study of microscopic fossils
10. Monopathophobia: Fear of definite disease
N
1. Necessitarianism: Philosophical theory according to which actions are always consequent to antecedent causes
2. Nemathelminthes: Roundworms
3. Neopharmaphobia: Fear of new drugs
4. Nephelodometer: An instrument for estimating the distances or speed of clouds
5. Neurophysiological: Pertaining to the branch of physiology that deals with the functions of the nervous system
6. Nigroglobulate: The act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto
7. Noctambulation: Sleepwalking
8. Nucamentaceous: Resembling a nut either structurally or their property of indehiscence; bearing one-seeded nut-like fruits
9. Nucleomituphobia: Fear of nuclear weapons
10. Nyctohylophobia: Fear of dark wooded areas at night
O
1. Obeliscolychny: Lighthouse
2. Obsequiousness: Abject submissiveness
3. Omphalopsychite: One who meditates by stares fixedly at his navel
4. Oneirogmophobia: Fear of wet dreams
5. Ophthalmophobia: Fear of being stared at
6. Ophthalmoscope: Instrument for viewing the interior of the eye
7. Opisthobranchiata: Marine gastropod mollusks with no operculum and gills present posterior to the heart
8. Orphanotrophism: Care and support of orphans
9. Ostraconophobia: Fear of shellfish
10. Otorhinolaryngology: It is a study of ear, nose, and throat
P
1. Palaeoanthropology: The study of early humans
2. Paleophytologist: One versed in the recovery and identification of plant fossils from geological contexts
3. Paraskavedekatriaphobia: Fear of Friday the 13th
4. Penecontemporaneous: Of geological processes occurring immediately after deposition
5. Philoprogenitiveness: The love of offspring
6. Pleuroperipneumony: Inflammation of the pleura and lungs
7. Pneumatophilosophy: Philosophy of spirits or the spirit world
8. Podobromhidrosis: Smelly feet
9. Pseudoantidisestablishmentarianism: Falsely supporting the idea of disestablishment
10. Pteromerhanophobia: Fear of flying
Q
1. Quadragesimarian: One who observes Lent
2. Quadrigeminous: Four-fold
3. Quadrigenarious: Four hundred
4. Quasquicentennial: One hundred twenty-fifth anniversary
5. Quatrefeuille: An ornamental foliation having four foils
6. Quindecemvirate: The body or office of the fifteen sacerdotal college men bestowed with the primary duty of protecting the Sibylline books
7. Quinquagenarian: Person between the ages of 50 and 59
8. Quinquedentated: Five-toothed
9. Quoddamodotative: Existing in a certain manner
10. Quomodocunquize: Making money in any possible way
R
1. Radappertization: Treatment of food with ionizing radiation to kill bacteria
2. Radiometeorograph: An instrument for measuring atmospheric conditions at high altitude
3. Rambunctiousness: The state of being boisterous and disorderly
4. Ranidaphobia: Fear of frogs
5. Representationalism: Doctrine that ideas rather than external objects are basis of knowledge
6. Retrovaccination: The inoculation of a cow with human vaccination in which smallpox virus from human vesicles is used as seed virus in producing smallpox vaccine in cattle
7. Rhabdophobia: Fear of being severely punished or beaten by a rod, or of being severely criticized
8. Rhinotillexomania: Compulsive nose picking
9. Rodomontadist: A person who boasts
10. Roentgenometrics: A chiropractic technique involving the study of X-rays by biomechanical analysis and measurement
S
1. Sacramentarianism: Belief that sacraments have unusual properties
2. Scrophulariaceous: Pertaining to the figwort family of plants (Scrophulariaceae)
3. Secundogeniture: The right of inheritance belonging to the second-oldest child
4. Sesquicentennially: Every 150 years
5. Siderodromophobia: Fear of trains, railroads or train travel
6. Spasmenagaliaphobia: Fear of shattered glass
7. Spermatophobia: The fear of germs
8. Spectroheliokinematograph: Camera for taking pictures of the sun
9. Sphygmomanometer: An instrument for measuring arterial blood pressure
10. Steganophthalmata: A division of jellyfishes, including most of the large disklike species
T
1. Trinitrophenylmethylnitramine: A type of explosive
2. Tetrakishexahedron: A solid in the isometric system, bounded by 24 congruent isosceles-triangular faces, four corresponding to each face of the cube
3. Thanatognomonic: Indicating death
4. Theologicophobia: Fear of theology
5. Theophilanthropism: Having love for divinity as well as mankind
6. Thermoluminescence: A form of luminescence that is exhibited by certain crystalline materials that may have absorbed energy previously
7. Transmogrification: Transformation to a different form or shape, especially strange or grotesque
8. Trichopathophobia: Fear of hair
9. Triskaidekaphobia: Phobia of the number 13
10. Triboluminescence: Frictional emission of light
U
1. Ubiquitarianism: Belief in the omnipresence of God
2. Ultramicroscope: Instrument for viewing objects that are difficult to see by the naked eye
3. Ultimogeniture: The right of inheritance belonging to the last son
4. Umbraculiform: Umbrella-shaped
5. Uncircumstandtial: Not circumstantial; trivial
6. Uncompartmentalized: Not separated into different categories or compartments
7. Unconsentaneous: Disagreement
8. Uniformitarianism: The theory or assumption that the same natural laws and processes that operate in the universe now, have operated since its inception and apply everywhere in the universe and that all geological phenomena may be explained as the result of these existing forces
9. Unsoutcheoned: Destitute of an escutcheon
10. Utilitarianism: Adopting a code of conduct that determines ethical values
V
1. Valetudinarianism: The condition or state of mind of a sickly or weak person who is incessantly worried about personal health
2. Vasoconstriction: Narrowing of the blood vessels owing to the contraction of their muscular walls
3. Venturesomeness: Daring and adventurous
4. Venustraphobia: Being scared of beautiful women
5. Verminophobia: Being afraid of germs
6. Vernacularization: The act, process, or state of picking elements from a foreign language and modifying and accepting it as a part of a native dialect of a specific population
7. Virginitiphobia: Fear of rape
8. Vitricophobic: One who fears his step-father
9. Volumenometer: Instrument that determines volume of a solid
10. Voicespondence: Correspondence by means of formerly recorded conversations
W
1. Walloonphobia: Fear of Walloons (French-speaking Belgian community)
2. Wawaskeesh: An American elk
3. welterweight: A combat sports weight class division
4. Weatherometer: Instrument for measuring weather-resisting properties of paint
5. Weatherstripping: Material to seal the openings such as doors, trunks, windows to exclude the cold, wind, and rain
6. Weltanschauungen: One’s individual or a group’s outlook towards life
7. Whereinsoever: In whatever matter, respect, place, or action
8. Whippersnappers: People considered insignificant and pretentious
9. Whippoorwill: Night-jar from America
10. Whithersoever: Wherever
X
1. Xanthocyanopsy: Kind of color-blindness in which one can see only blue and yellow colors
2. Xanthomelanous: Pertaining to races with black hair and yellow or olive complexion
3. Xanthophobia: Fearful towards yellow color
4. Xanthospermous: Containing yellow seeds
5. Xenodocheionology: Liking for hotels and inns
6. Xenoglossophobia: Fear of foreign languages
7. Xerophthalmia: Dry eye syndrome
8. Xeroradiography: Kind of X-ray wherein the picture is taken on a paper and not on a film
9. Xiphophyllous: Sword-shaped leaved
10. Xylopyrographist: A poker painter
Y
1. Yachtsmanship: Adeptness in sailing a yacht
2. Yarborough: Hand of cards where no card is above nine
3. Yarnwindle: Tool used for winding the yarn
4. Yellowhammer: A passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae
5. Yellowshanks: American shorebirds of the sandpiper family
6. Yellowthroats: A New World warblers in the genus Geothlypis
7. Yeomanette: Old term for a woman serving in the American naval reserve during World War II
8. Yezdegerdian: Pertaining to Yezdegerd, the last Sassanian monarch of Persia, overthrown by the Muslims
9. Yogibogeybox: Things used by a spiritualist
10. Yttriferous: One that contains yttrium
Z
1. Zemmiphobia: Being afraid of the great mole rat
2. Zalambdodont: Having molar teeth with V-shaped ridges
3. Zarathustrianism: Zoroastrianism
4. Zeusophobia: Being scared of divine beings
5. Zigzaggery: Contortion
6. Zoanthodeme: Collective zooids of compound anthozoa
7. Zooarchaeology: Studying the remnants of animals on archaeological sites
8. Zoosporangium: A spore
9. Zeugmatography: A term previously proposed for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
10. Zeugobranchiata: A division of marine mollusks with gills on both sides of the body and paired renal organs
Now, here are some other fun words that are bound to wriggle those gray cells optimally. Most of them aren’t a part of any lexicon yet, but that doesn’t make them any less mesmerizing.
Here are the top 5 names of places on the globe with the longest names.
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu (85 letters) – A hill in New Zealand, the name of which stands for: “The summit of the hill, where Tamatea, who is known as the land eater, slid down, climbed up and swallowed mountains, played on his nose flute to his loved one”.
Gorsafawddachaidraigodanheddogleddolonpenrhynareurdraethceredigion (66 letters) – A town in Wales, the name of which means: “The Mawddach station and its dragon teeth at the Northern Penrhyn Road on the golden beach of Cardigan bay”.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (58 letters) – A northern Welsh town the name of which means: “The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio’s of the red cave”.
Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (41 letters) – A lake in Massachusetts.
Nunathloogagamiutbingoi (23 letters) – The name of certain Alaskan dunes.
And here are two mind-boggling scientific terms for your pleasure.
Methionylglutaminylarginyltyrosylglutamylserylleucylphenylalanylalanylglutaminylleucyllysylglutamylarginyllysylglutamylglycylalanylphenylalanylvalylprolylphenylalanylvalylthreonylleucylglycylaspartylprolylglycylisoleucylglutamylglutaminylserylleucyllysylisoleucylaspartylthreonylleucylisoleucylglutamylalanylglycylalanylaspartylalanylleucylglutamylleucylglycylisoleucylprolylphenylalanylserylaspartylprolylleucylalanylaspartylglycylprolylthreonylisoleucylglutaminylasparaginylalanylthreonylleucylarginylalanylphenylalanylalanylalanylglycylvalylthreonylprolylalanylglutaminylcysteinylphenylalanylglutamylmethionylleucylalanylleucylisoleucylarginylglutaminyllysylhistidylprolylthreonylisoleucylprolylisoleucylglycylleucylleucylmethionyltyrosylalanylasparaginylleucylvalylphenylalanylasparaginyllysylglycylisoleucylaspartylglutamylphenylalanyltyrosylalanylglutaminylcysteinylglutamyllysylvalylglycylvalylaspartylserylvalylleucylvalylalanylaspartylvalylprolylvalylglutaminylglutamylserylalanylprolylphenylalanylarginylglutaminylalanylalanylleucylarginylhistidylasparaginylvalylalanylprolylisoleucylphenylalanylisoleucylcysteinylprolylprolylaspartylalanylaspartylaspartylaspartylleucylleucylarginylglutaminylisoleucylalanylseryltyrosylglycylarginylglycyltyrosylthreonyltyrosylleucylleucylserylarginylalanylglycylvalylthreonylglycylalanylglutamylasparaginylarginylalanylalanylleucylprolylleucylasparaginylhistidylleucylvalylalanyllysylleucyllysylglutamyltyrosylasparaginylalanylalanylprolylprolylleucylglutaminylglycylphenylalanylglycylisoleucylserylalanylprolylaspartylglutaminylvalyllysylalanylalanylisoleucylaspartylalanylglycylalanylalanylglycylalanylisoleucylserylglycylserylalanylisoleucylvalyllysylisoleucylisoleucylglutamylglutaminylhistidylasparaginylisoleucylglutamylprolylglutamyllysylmethionylleucylalanylalanylleucyllysylvalylphenylalanylvalylglutaminylprolylmethionyllysylalanylalanylthreonylarginylserine – At 1,913 characters, this is the full name of tryptophan synthetase – a protein which consists of 267 amino acids.
Acetylseryltyrosylserylisoleucylthreonylserylprolylserylglutaminylphenylalanylvalylphenylalanylleucylserylserylvalyltryptophylalanylaspartylprolylisoleucylglutamylleucylleucylasparaginylvalylcysteinylthreonylserylserylleucylglycylasparaginylglutaminylphenylalanylglutaminylthreonylglutaminylglutaminylalanylarginylthreonylthreonylglutaminylvalylglutaminylglutaminylphenylalanylserylglutaminylvalyltryptophyllysylprolylphenylalanylprolylglutaminylserylthreonylvalylarginylphenylalanylprolylglycylaspartylvalyltyrosyllysylvalyltyrosylarginyltyrosylasparaginylalanylvalylleucylaspartylprolylleucylisoleucylthreonylalanylleucylleucylglycylthreonylphenylalanylaspartylthreonylarginylasparaginylarginylisoleucylisoleucylglutamylvalylglutamylasparaginylglutaminylglutaminylserylprolylthreonylthreonylalanylglutamylthreonylleucylaspartylalanylthreonylarginylarginylvalylaspartylaspartylalanylthreonylvalylalanylisoleucylarginylserylalanylasparaginylisoleucylasparaginylleucylvalylasparaginylglutamylleucylvalylarginylglycylthreonylglycylleucyltyrosylasparaginylglutaminylasparaginylthreonylphenylalanylglutamylserylmethionylserylglycylleucylvalyltryptophylthreonylserylalanylprolylalanylserine – With 1,185 letters, this is the chemical name of the Coat Protein, Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), Dahlemense Strain and was first published in American Chemical Society’s “Chemical Abstracts Service”.
And now for the monarch of all words – 189,819 characters long!
Chemical Name of Titin
Whew!! Wasn’t that some real heavy stuff! Well that’s it for now. Guess you too are short of breath after reading the long list. Hope you had fun reading them though!
