Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Pronunciation

UK IPA: en, /ˌhɪ.pəˌpɒ.tə(ʊ)ˈmɒn.stɹə(ʊ)ˌsɛs.kwɪ.pɪˌdɑːl.ɪ.ə(ʊ)ˈfəʊ.bɪ.ə/
Rhymes: -en, -əʊbiə
Hyphenation: en + hip + po + po + to + mon + stro + ses + qui + pe + dal + i + o + pho + bi + a

Alternative forms

hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia common misspelling, perhaps on purpose, to make the word even longer

Origin

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

Full definition of hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Noun

hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

(uncountable)

(humorous) The fear of long
Ben suffers from hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia so he seldom uses words of more than three syllables.

April 19, 2002, anonymous
December 14, 2002, Chris Lloyd
September 30, 2005, D. Harlan Wilson, Pseudo-City, 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 ...

Usage notes

It is unlikely that this 15-syllable contrivance is ever used purely for its meaning. The term sesquipedalophobia is recognized in formal writing.

Synonyms

sesquipedalophobia