Scared Of Long Words? Your Phobia Is Called...

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7 May 2024

In the world of human language, words serve as the threads that weave together our thoughts, emotions and experiences

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However, some individuals have a fear of long words, and it is called 'hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia'

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It is associated with feelings of shame or fear of ridicule for mispronouncing long words that may cause distress or anxiety

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According to BBC Science Focus, it is not officially recognised as a genuine medical condition but a clever wordplay

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The original phrase was 'sesquipedalia verba', used by the Roman poet Horace in first century BC, to criticise writers who used words "a foot and a half long"

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But the longer version appears to have been coined by the American poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil in 2000, the outlet further said

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The poet presumably added the extra syllables for literary effect - like aibohphobia (fear of palindromes)

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Healthline said the American Psychiatric Association doesn't officially recognise this phobia

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They consider hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia a social phobia

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The strange word was used by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor a few years ago while announcing his new book

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