What is Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?
People suffering from Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia are afraid of long words. Such a name was given to the phobia, of course, ironically. This long word can be broken into several parts:
- Hippopotamus. Defining a large creature, this word is often used to refer to different large objects.
- Monstr. An enormous and terrifying creature.
- Sesquippedali. This means ‘measuring a foot and a half long’
And the meaning of the word phobia is, of course, clear. Well, it appears that a person with hippopoto-monstro-sesquippedalio-phobia will never be able to pronounce the name of the disease!
More Info:
www.fearof.net
What are your thoughts on this subject?
113 Comments
DannyBoy
I was afraid of that!
Marlene Theyerl
Must be what Trump has!
Elsy O. Stromberg
Hard to believe that's really a word.
Chris Brown
I love long words and I have one of my own. It is a combination of super, fabulous, fantastic, and fantasmagorical: superfantabulasticamagorical.
JohnnyRoulette
I’m afraid that’s more word than I could spell or pronounce. But I did get it right.
C Jagoda
People would of course be afraid of long words if they tried to pronounce Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia!
Chrissie
Lynne Zeman, in Greek, hippo = horse; potamos = river.
Hence, the hippopotamus is a river-horse.
But it would be prudent not to attempt to ride one.
Chrissie
Hilariously ironic. Love it!
mainjim
I'd have a fear of having to write that blasted word!
Debbie H Worcester
Never heard that word before but guessed it right! Good question
Player
Lynne Zeman, hippo is from the Greek for horse. I once did hippotherapy, no hippopotamus in sight.
Player
earlepg, hippophobia is the fear of horses it is also called equinophobia. Both hippo & equine meaning horse.
earlepg
Had to be long words. Fear of hippos is simply hippophobia; something I might develop if they were around here.
Kat
Strangely enough, my siblings were just discussing long words, and this one came up - good for a few chuckles!
tbear
Todd Cates, 👍😊
Dominic Willott
Sesquipedalia has only one "P"
Ilias Tsiabardas
B...S..... 😡