By Frédéric Ibanez,
International Business
Did you know that the longest word in the world contains 190,000 letters? The following is our list of the five longest words in the world:
An English word of 189, 819 letters
The longest word in the world is the English term: "methionylthreonylthreonyl(...)isoleucine".
This term, which has no less than 189, 819 letters, is the chemical name of the largest protein: titin. It would take three hours to recite it from beginning to end!
निरन्तरान्धकारित-दिगन्तर-कन्दलदमन्द-सुधारस-बिन्दु-सान्द्रतर-घनाघन-वृन्द-सन्देहकर-स्यन्दमान-मकरन्द-बिन्दु-बन्धुरतर-माकन्द-तरु-कुल-तल्प-कल्प-मृदुल-सिकता-जाल-जटिल-मूल-तल-मरुवक-मिलदलघु-लघु-लय-कलित-रमणीय-पानीय-शालिका-बालिका-करार-विन्द-गलन्तिका-गलदेला-लवङ्ग-पाटल-घनसार-कस्तूरिकातिसौरभ-मेदुर-लघुतर-मधुर-शीतलतर-सलिलधारा-तदीय-विमल-विलोचन-मयूख-रेखापसारित-पिपासायास-पथिक-लोकान्
The second longest word in the world is a 195-character Sanskrit word (equivalent to 428 letters in the Latin alphabet).
It is a word that has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest word in the world. It first appeared in the 16th century in a book written by Queen Tirumalãmbã, and is actually a description of a region in India called Tamil Nadu.
The third longest word is this 136-letter Afrikaans word:
"Tweedehandsemotorverkoopsmannevakbondstakingsvergaderingsameroeperstoespra-akskrywerspersverklaringuitreikingsmediakonferensieaankondiging”
Roughly translated, it means 'a press conference on a speech by a trade union official at a used car dealership about a strike'.
Afrikaans is a Germanic language derived from Dutch, and is one of the eleven official languages of South Africa.
This is the fourth longest word in the world:
"Taumatawhakatangihangakoauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu”
This is actually the name of a hill in New Zealand. Its translation is: "The peak where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the surveyor, the mountain climber, the walker who travelled here, played his flute to his beloved."
Consisting of 85 letters, this word is the longest place name in the world in the Latin alphabet. It has also been included in the Guinness Book of Records.
"Vaðlaheiðarvegavinnuverkfærageymsluskúraútidyralyklakippuhringur"
This Icelandic word of 64 letters is the fifth longest in the world. It is literally translated as follows:
"A ring on a key ring for the outer door of the tool shed used by road maintenance workers on Vaðlaheiði hill.”
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Answers to your questions about the longest words in the world
The longest French word officially recognised by the Académie française is "anticonstitutionnellement", which consists of 25 letters. It is, in other words, the longest word in the French dictionary.
"Rinderkennzeichnungsfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz" is the longest word in the German language with 79 letters.
The longest English word is also the longest word in the world, with almost 190,000 letters. It is the chemical name for titin, the largest protein known. The longest word in the English dictionary however, is the 45-letter word "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis", which refers to a lung disease. Doctors call it "P45".
About the author
The editorial team, which is led by the founder of the group to which Alphatrad UK belongs, consists of experts who specialise in language services. Our goal is to regularly provide you with articles related to translation and language services, which will help you with your language services’ needs.
Comments
Ricky (23.05.2022)
How about supercalifragaliticexpialadouces even I can’t spell it correctly 😂😂😂
Promise (03.06.2022)
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis what of this one........
lifczm (20.07.2022)
I thought the longest word in the world is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Clearly I was wrong!
I'd love to see the 189,819 letter word in full writing! 😂
LoginPanel07 (14.10.2022)
There is a longer, that should be the top 5th: Its in Hungarian: eltöredezettségmentesítőtleníttethetetlenségtelenítőtlenkedhetnétek
Ethan Benjamin-Perry (23.11.2022)
So useful
Anonymous (30.11.2022)
Good
Your next door… (11.12.2022)
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolanoconiosis
I thought that was the longest word in English but clearly I was WAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY off
Juliette (29.05.2023)
anticonstitutionnellement is the longest french word
steven kerr (10.12.2023)
I thought the 3rd longest was
Hippopotomonstrisosquidelliaphobia with 42 letters
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Greetings, enthusiasts of linguistics and language aficionados. I am here to delve into the captivating world of linguistic marvels, particularly the extraordinary realm of the longest words in the world. My expertise in this domain is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of etymology, language structures, and a keen interest in linguistic curiosities. Let's embark on a journey through the fascinating article by Frédéric Ibanez, dated 01.07.2021, exploring the longest words across various languages.
1. Methionylthreonylthreonyl(...)isoleucine - 189,819 letters The undisputed champion in the English language, this behemoth of a word stands as the chemical name for the largest protein known to humanity, titin. Clocking in at a staggering 189,819 letters, it takes an astonishing three hours to recite this lexical giant from start to finish. It's a testament to the intricacies of scientific nomenclature.
2. Sanskrit Word - 195 characters The second-longest word hails from Sanskrit, consisting of 195 characters or 428 letters in the Latin alphabet. Originating in the 16th century, this word, documented by Queen Tirumalãmbã, is a descriptive gem portraying the Tamil Nadu region in India. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records, it showcases the rich linguistic heritage of Sanskrit.
3. Afrikaans Word - 136 letters A linguistic marvel from the Germanic language family, this Afrikaans word, with 136 letters, narrates a detailed scenario: "Tweedehandsemotorverkoopsmannevakbondstakingsvergaderingsameroeperstoespra-akskrywerspersverklaringuitreikingsmediakonferensieaankondiging." Roughly translated, it describes a press conference on a speech by a trade union official at a used car dealership about a strike. Afrikaans, derived from Dutch, displays its complexity in this word.
4. New Zealand Place Name - 85 letters In the picturesque landscapes of New Zealand, we encounter the fourth-longest word, "Taumatawhakatangihangakoauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu." With 85 letters, it stands as the longest place name in the world in the Latin alphabet. Its poetic translation narrates the tale of Tamatea, the man with the big knees, and his flute-playing escapades on a hill.
5. Icelandic Word - 64 letters Closing our linguistic exploration is an Icelandic word with 64 letters: "Vaðlaheiðarvegavinnuverkfærageymsluskúraútidyralyklakippuhringur." This word translates to a ring on a key ring for the outer door of the tool shed used by road maintenance workers on Vaðlaheiði hill. It exemplifies the descriptive nature of Icelandic, known for its compound words.
In addition to these linguistic marvels, it's worth noting that the longest word in the German language is "Rinderkennzeichnungsfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz," with 79 letters. The longest word in the English dictionary, albeit significantly shorter than its chemical counterpart, is "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis," referring to a lung disease.
As we revel in the richness of language, these longest words stand as testament to the diversity and intricacy embedded in the world's linguistic tapestry. For those curious minds seeking linguistic challenges, these lexical giants provide a glimpse into the boundless creativity and precision of human expression.
