The English language is a vast well of words, with new terms constantly being formulated.
The latest update to the Oxford English Dictionary has seen more than more than 700 new words, phrases and senses added to its pages. Even without this, there are still a mountain of words that are barely known - unless you've mustered the will to read the reference book cover to cover.
To help broaden your vocabulary, the language experts at Preplay have dove into the weird and wonderful world of words to uncover the longest ones, with the top spanning 45 letters.
Focusing on the downright bizarre, you'll need to take a deep breath before attempting to pronounce any of these 10 ridiculously elongated phrases. To help, the specialists have broken down each one to get them right.
Here are ten of the longest words in the dictionary, as reported by Wales Online.
Top 10 longest words in the dictionary
1. 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”
2. 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”
3. 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”
4. 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”
5. 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”
6. 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”
7. 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”
8. Thyroparathyroidectomized - 25 letters
Thyroparathyroidectomized refers to the surgical removal of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
Pronunciation
“Thy-ro-para-thy-ro-dec-tom-ized”
9. 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”
10. 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 “
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here .
