How many unusual things do you know? How often do you impress your friends with information that may not be that relevant in everyday life but is extremely interesting to know? If you like being one of these knowledgeable people, check out what the longest word in English is and what it means and start impressing every language lover person you have around you!
The longest word in English
The longest word in English has 45 letters and it refers to a lung disease. It is not commonly used since it has a much simpler synonym. But it does exist and appears in every good dictionary you can find! Without further ado, here’s the longest word in English:
- pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (click here to check its pronunciation)
What it means
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is the name of a lung disease that you can develop by inhaling small particles of ash or dust, such as crystalline silica, or quartz dust. It’s a synonym of the less complex word silicosis. It’s characterized by inflammation and scarring in the form of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs. Common symptoms are cough, shortness of breath, fever, and cyanosis (a bluish or purplish skin color).
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