Dictionary

hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (UK) audio
• /ˌhɪ.pəˌpɒ.tə(ʊ)ˈmɒn.stɹə(ʊ)ˌsɛs.kwɪ.pɪˌdɑːl.ɪ.ə(ʊ)ˈfəʊ.bɪ.ə/ (UK)

Etymology

From hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian, in turn an extension of sesquipedalian with ad hoc combining forms of Latin monstrum (“monster”) and hippopotamus (intended to exaggerate the length of the word itself and the idea of the size of the words being feared), + -phobia.

Meanings

1. (humorous, uncountable) The fear of long words.
   • However, we assume that despite the best endeavours of science, some phobias will always remain. These include paraskavedekatriaphobia, or fear of Friday the 13th. And hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, which is fear of long words. 2002 April 19, anonymous author, The Scotsman, page 13:
   • Ben suffers from hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, so he seldom uses words of more than three syllables.
   • Those who find this column troubling are suffering from hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia—the fear of long words. Or, more likely, rupophobia—a fear of rubbish. 2002 December 14, Chris Lloyd, The Northern Echo, page 10:
   • Coincidentally there is a masochistic PCP with hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words) curled up in an alleyway across the street. He has been whispering “Antidisestablishmentarianism” to himself over and over for two days now, experiencing up to one orgasm every three hours as a result of The Pain […] 2005 September 30, D. Harlan Wilson, Pseudo-City, Raw Dog Screaming Press, →ISBN, page 183:

Forms

Relateds

hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian · sesquipedalian

Synonyms

sesquipedalophobia

Translations (30)

ko 긴 단어 공포증 (the fear of long words) · hu hippopotomonsztroszeszkvipedaliofóbia (the fear of long words) · tr hippopotomonstroseskipedaliyofobi (the fear of long words) · ru гиппопотомонстросескиппедалофо́бия (the fear of long words) · es sesquipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · es hipopotomonstrosesquipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · fr hippopotomonstrosesquipédaliophobie (the fear of long words) · de Sesquipedalophobie (the fear of long words) · ca hipopotomonstrosesquipedaliofòbia (the fear of long words) · pl hipopotomonstroseskwipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · ru боя́знь дли́нных слов (the fear of long words) · hi लम्बे शब्दों का भय (the fear of long words) · pt sesquipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · cmn 長單詞恐懼症 /长单词恐惧症 (the fear of long words) · de Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobie (the fear of long words) · haw kipona makaʻu huaʻōlelo loloa (the fear of long words) · mk хипопотомонстросесквипедалиофо́бија (the fear of long words) · it ippopotomostrosesquipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · ms hipopotomonstroseskuipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · da hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliofobi (the fear of long words) · da angst for lange ord (the fear of long words) · it sesquipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · fr hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobie (the fear of long words) · it hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · sv långordsrädsla (the fear of long words) · sa दीर्घशब्दभयः (the fear of long words) · no hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliofobi (the fear of long words) · pt hipopotomonstrosesquipedaliofobia (the fear of long words) · ja 長大語恐怖症 (the fear of long words) · fi pitkien sanojen pelko (the fear of long words)