How to Pronounce "Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia"

Hard

IPA hɪˌpɒpətəˌmɒnstrəˌsɛskwɪˌpɛdælɪˈoʊfəbɪə

Syllables: hip·po·pot·o·mon·stro·ses·quip·pe·dal·io·pho·bi·a

What does "Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia" mean?

noun

The fear of long words, considered an ironic term since the word itself is so long.

Example: "Her fear of long words, known as hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, made it challenging for her to read complex texts."

Origin of "Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia"

From Latin hippopotamus + monstro (monster) + sesquipedalian (long-worded) + phobia (fear). Constructed as a humorous tongue-in-cheek psychological term.

How to Say "Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia"

🗣️ Step by Step

HIP-uh-POH-tuh-MON-stroh-SES-kwip-ED-al-ee-oh-FOB-ee-uh. Stress the 'SES'.

⚠️ Common Mistake

Many people mispronounce it by skipping the 'sesqui' part or not stressing 'SES', making the word sound choppy and incomplete.

💬 Example

Her fear of long words, known as hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, made it challenging for her to read complex texts.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is pronounced hɪˌpɒpətəˌmɒnstrəˌsɛskwɪˌpɛdælɪˈoʊfəbɪə. Click the audio button above to hear the correct pronunciation in American, British, and Australian English.