It’s really quite atrocious

You probably can’t tell by the way I write (or talk), but I subscribe to a “word a day” email from wordsmith.org. This week they are doing looooong words:

pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, noun (NOO-muh-noh-UL-truh-MY-kruh-SKOP-ik-SIL-i-koh-VOL-kay-no-koh-NEE-o-sis, nyoo-)

A lung disease caused by inhaling fine particles of silica.

[From New Latin, from Greek pneumono- (lung) + Latin ultra- (beyond,extremely) + Greek micro- (small) + -scopic (looking) + Latin silico (like sand) + volcano + Greek konis (dust) + -osis (condition).]

Even though we have included the pronunciation of this word, we advise caution lest you may have to avail the services of an otorhinolaryngologist (a throat, nose, and ear specialist).

At 45 letters, it’s the longest word in any English language dictionary. It’s a trophy word — its only job is to serve as the longest word. In day-to-day use, its nine-letter synonyms “silicosis” or “black lung” work just as well, and the latter is more descriptive. Whatever you call it, it is deadly. Here’s the story of an incident.

And what’s the shortest word in the English language? There are a number of them: A, I, O, but we’ll have to give it to I which is the skinniest as well.

-Anu Garg (gargATwordsmith.org)

“This time the messages were longer and nastier. ‘What on earth is the matter with you? Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis?'” Marion Thomas; Mystery Writer; Curriculum Corporation; 1998.

3 thoughts on “It’s really quite atrocious”

  1. But better use it carefully or it could change your life

    For example

    One night I said it to me girl, and now me girl’s me wife.

    Ow!

    And a lovely thing she is, too.

  2. DUDE!

    You’re right on my wavelength the last few posts…

    Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis was one of the first words my ‘spelling bee’ coach (yep, they exist) taught me how to spell when I was eight. EIGHT.

    At the time, it was the longest word in the English language (it’s really not anymore because of other similar words, but I’ll let that slide) and it was hell to learn when nobody would write it down for you.

    It’s fun to say, though. Especially fast. When people aren’t making any sense so you want to sound as crazy as them.

    Oh, I could go ON AND ON about that word and what it has done to me… but I’ll just leave you with the comment that our blogs/brains are sharing too many wavelengths lately…

  3. Makes me ponder, briefly, what kind poem “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williamsmight have been had he subscribed to a “word a day” thing…yikes! 🙂

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