Strive These 35+ Lengthy Phrases in English That You Might Truly Use
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If you consider lengthy English phrases, it’s possible you’ll consider obscure phrases like supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (a enjoyable time period from the movie Mary Poppins) or hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (the concern of lengthy phrases). However some lengthy phrases in English are simpler to make use of in on a regular basis dialog—and so they sound simply as spectacular!
Discover the latest additions to your English vocabulary with our record of lengthy English phrases. You’ll additionally discover ways to pronounce lengthy phrases in English, how one can use them in a sentence, and why English phrases can get so lengthy within the first place.
Lengthy English phrases record
There are roughly a million phrases within the English language, however you don’t use all of them every single day. In actual fact, it’s possible you’ll solely use about 42,000 English phrases in your complete vocabulary, and the common size of these phrases is 4.5 letters lengthy!
Add these lengthy English phrases to your on a regular basis vocabulary to extend that common and use extra particular language. Some phrases are so long as 23 letters, and you will discover a means to make use of them typically if you take a look at the instance sentences we included under the chart.
| English Phrase | Variety of Letters | A part of Speech | Definition |
| absentmindedness | 16 | noun | misplaced in thought and unfocused |
| alphabetization | 15 | noun | placing issues in alphabetical order |
| brokenheartedly | 15 | adverb | doing one thing whereas feeling nice sorrow |
| bureaucratically | 16 | adverb | doing one thing in a very official means |
| cantankerousness | 16 | noun | the state of being unpleasant |
| circumlocution | 14 | noun | talking not directly |
| counterclockwise | 16 | adverb | other way to the rotation of a clock’s fingers |
| counterproductive | 17 | adjective | an motion that retains you from reaching a objective |
| disenfranchising | 16 | verb or participle | taking away somebody’s rights |
| disproportionately | 18 | adverb | not in steadiness or proportion |
| exceptionalities | 16 | plural noun | qualities of being in contrast to others |
| flabbergasted | 13 | adjective | very shocked |
| grandiloquent | 13 | adjective | talking with elevated language |
| idiosyncratic | 13 | adjective | an individual’s distinctive or peculiar traits |
| incomprehensible | 16 | adjective | not possible to grasp |
| inconsequential | 15 | adjective | not essential |
| indistinguishabilities | 22 | plural noun | particulars that make it troublesome to inform issues aside |
| institutionalization | 20 | noun | making one thing official. or placing somebody in an establishment |
| interdisciplinary | 17 | adjective | combining two or extra topics |
| melodramatization | 17 | noun | making one thing extra emotional or dramatic |
| misrepresentation | 17 | noun | representing one thing incorrectly |
| noninterchangeable | 18 | adjective | not simply switched with one thing very comparable |
| obsequious | 10 | adjective | being obedient and desirous to please |
| ostentatious | 12 | adjective | flashy, making an attempt to get consideration |
| overintellectualization | 23 | noun | eager about one thing an excessive amount of |
| perspicacious | 13 | adjective | can simply perceive folks and conditions |
| pusillanimous | 13 | adjective | cowardly or afraid |
| quintessential | 14 | adjective | the final word instance |
| rationalization | 15 | noun | making an unreasonable motion sound affordable |
| scintillating | 13 | adjective | intelligent and attention-grabbing |
| semiautobiographical | 20 | adjective | partially primarily based on an individual’s life |
| telecommunications | 18 | plural noun | transmission of knowledge over distance |
| ultrasophisticated | 18 | adjective | very refined or elegant |
| unenthusiastically | 18 | adverb | not excited, reluctant |
| unequivocally | 13 | adverb | very clearly |
Examples of lengthy English phrases in a sentence
A few of these lengthy English phrases appear to be they belong in a listing of exhausting tongue twisters as an alternative of informal conversations! See how one can use lengthy phrases in English accurately in sentences that you simply would possibly use in on a regular basis speech.
- This film is semiautobiographical as a result of it’s primarily based on the occasions from an actual individual’s life.
- I didn’t end the e book as a result of I discovered it incomprehensible and complicated.
- These work have so many indistinguishabilities that it’s exhausting to inform them aside.
- My lecturers deliberate an interdisciplinary lesson that included expertise from math, historical past, and science.
- Despite the fact that Spanish and Portuguese sound comparable, the languages are noninterchangeable.
- Do you assume my costume is simply too flashy and ostentatious?
- Ryan’s perspicacious mom can all the time inform when an individual is untrustworthy.
- That is the quintessential e book about employees’ rights in america.
- My sister has levels in telecommunications and pc science.
- The group cheered unenthusiastically as a result of their group was shedding by 20 factors.
What are the longest phrases in English?
The phrase overintellectualization tops our lengthy English phrases record above, however it’s removed from being the longest English phrase within the language. Uncover a couple of of these lengthy phrases (and the way you would possibly have the ability to slip them into dialog!).
1. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
At 45 letters lengthy, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is often generally known as the longest phrase in English. It describes a particular lung illness brought on by inhaling ash and mud.
However although this prolonged phrase is among the longest English phrases, it’s nowhere close to the longest phrase on this planet. That honor belongs to a 195-character Sanskrit phrase that describes a whole scene!
2. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a 36-letter phrase that describes a phobia of lengthy phrases. This may increasingly describe college students who pale at vocabulary lists, readers who turn into discouraged at discovering lengthy phrases they don’t know, or those that have a medical phobia of such phrases (though this phobia is comparatively uncommon).
Attempt to use this phrase, or the same time period sesquipedalophobia, in a dialog about phobias. You can even use it for instance of irony that it takes a really lengthy phrase to explain the concern of lengthy phrases!
3. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
In Mary Poppins (1964), the 34-letter phrase supercalifragilisticexpialidocious looks like a foolish made-up phrase. And it’s! However its legendary creation put this lengthy phrase within the dictionary, and now it’s a solution to categorical that you simply like one thing very a lot.
Use this nice phrase when displaying enthusiasm over somebody’s fabulous accomplishments, or to approve of somebody’s current accomplishments. “That’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!”
4. Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism is a 30-letter-long phrase that describes an inherited situation that ends in brief stature and hand bones. It’s just like pseudohypoparathyroidism (24 letters) however it doesn’t have the identical hormone resistance.
You will have to attend for a medical or scientific dialogue to convey this lengthy phrase into dialog, until you’re researching it in your personal life. Both means, the double prefix of pseudo- could be an attention-grabbing matter of grammar-related dialog!
5. Floccinaucinihilipilification
The phrase floccinaucinihilipilification (29 letters) describes the act of deciding that one thing is nugatory. It looks like a number of letters for such a easy course of, however with a number of Latin roots which means “insignificant,” together with flocci, (tufts of fiber), nauci (of little worth), and nihili (nothing), this phrase makes its which means clear a number of occasions over.
You’re most definitely to listen to floccinaucinihilipilification in conversations the place persons are self-deprecating, similar to “My final relationship was an train in floccinaucinihilipilification.” It is also an efficient solution to describe a e book, film, or TV present you actually didn’t like.
6. Antidisestablishmentarianism
A preferred instance of a really lengthy phrase in English, antidisestablishmentarianism is a 28-letter phrase that describes being in opposition to eradicating one thing’s official standing. The historic which means of antidisestablishmentarianism referred to the state of being against eradicating the Church of English as England’s official state church.
This phrase primarily exists on lists of lengthy phrases, however like many Latin-based phrases, we are able to discover methods to make use of it with new which means right this moment. Work it into conversations about an establishment shedding its standing or changing into disestablished (“In relation to the board’s resolution, I discover myself leaning towards antidisestablishmentarianism“)!
How do English phrases get longer?
Most lengthy English phrases don’t begin out so long as they’re. Learn how a brief English phrase rapidly turns into an extended (and extra particular) phrase with only a few adjustments utilizing prefixes or suffixes.
Including prefixes and suffixes
You will have seen that many lengthy phrases in English start equally. Incomprehensible and inconsequential, for instance, each start with the prefix in- (which implies “not”). You’ll additionally see lengthy English phrases have comparable endings, as within the phrases misrepresentation and rationalization. They share the suffix -tion, which implies “the state of.”
See how including Greek and Latin prefixes and suffixes could make shorter English phrases longer, which creates a extra particular which means.
| Root Phrase | Prefix | Suffix | Full Phrase |
| argue | counter- | -ment | counterargument |
| bio | anti- | -tic | antibiotic |
| stand | under- | -ing | understanding |
Compound phrases
English has many compound phrases, which mix two phrases to create a phrase with a model new which means. See how including two shorter phrases collectively can lead to one lengthy English phrase. (And should you assume English compound phrases can get lengthy, simply wait until you be taught some lengthy German phrases that mix many shorter phrases!)
| First Phrase | Second Phrase | Compound Phrase |
| coronary heart | break | heartbreak |
| grand | daughter | granddaughter |
| straight | ahead | simple |
Turn out to be extra grandiloquent with lengthy English phrases
Whether or not you’re studying how one can converse English otherwise you’re a local speaker, utilizing lengthy phrases in English makes you sound extra subtle and educated. A sophisticated vocabulary helps you make a good clearer level in dialog and writing—and also you’ll decide up some enjoyable new expressions alongside the best way!
To be taught extra about English components of speech or begin a brand new language studying journey, be taught extra about how Rosetta Stone works. You’ll discover a supportive teaching atmosphere, participating language classes, and alternatives to broaden your understanding (and your vocabulary!).
