Can YOU pronounce them? The 10 longest words in the English dictionary revealed – here’s how to say them

Whether it’s ‘plethora’ or ‘resplendent’, many of us have a few fancy words in our arsenal that we bring out when we want to impress our friends. 

But if you really want to dazzle your pals, these impressively long words are just the ticket. 

Experts from Preply have scoured the latest Oxford English Dictionary for the 10 longest words.

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis takes the crown as the longest word, made up of a staggering 45 letters. 

Here, we reveal the 10 longest words, as well as their meanings and how to pronounce them. 

1.  Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

Length: 45 letters

Meaning: 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

Length: 36 letters

Meaning: Ironically, 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

Length: 34 letters

Meaning: 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

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis takes the crown as the longest word, made up of a staggering 45 letters. It’s a lung disease triggered by breathing in very fine silicate or quartz dust (stock image)

4. Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism 

Length: 30 letters

Meaning: 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

Length: 29 letters

Meaning: 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

A term coined by our favourite British nanny Mary Poppins, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious refers to something extraordinarily good or wonderful

6. Antidisestablishmentarianism

Length: 28 letters

Meaning: History buffs 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

Length: 27 letters

Meaning: 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 

Length: 25 letters

Meaning: Thyroparathyroidectomized refers to the surgical removal of the thyroid and parathyroid glands

Pronunciation: Thy·ro·para·thy·ro·dec·tom·ized

Thyroparathyroidectomized refers to the surgical removal of the thyroid and parathyroid glands (stock image)

9. Dichlorodifluoromethane 

Length: 23 letters

Meaning: A colourless nonflammable gas that is liquefied by pressure

Pronunciation: Dahy·klawr·oh·dahy·floor·oh·meth·eyn

10. Incomprehensibilities

Length: 21 letters

Meaning: Incomprehensibilities refers to the state of being impossible or very difficult to understand

Pronunciation: In·com·pre·hen·sib·il·ities