Key takeaways

  • Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia refers to the phobia or fear of long words. Organizations may consider it a type of specific phobia or social anxiety disorder.
  • People with hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia may experience feelings of shame or fear of ridicule for mispronouncing long words, which may cause distress or anxiety. They may avoid reading to prevent encountering long words.
  • Anyone who experiences fear or anxiety when they encounter long words may benefit from working with a healthcare professional. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other treatment options may be helpful.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary — and, in an ironic twist, is the name for a fear of long words. Sesquipedalophobia is another term for the phobia.

Healthcare organizations may consider hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia a type of specific or simple phobia, which is an irrational, intense fear of something that poses no or very little danger.

Alternatively, they may consider it a type of social anxiety disorder, formerly called social phobia, which involves a fear or judgment from others.

A person with hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia may experience symptoms when they see a long word, such as “antidisestablishmentarianism.” This can cause feelings of fear and anxiety. The person may also avoid reading so they don’t encounter long words that’ll cause them to panic.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the fear of long words can trigger embarrassment or feelings of being mocked when pronouncing or reading long words.

Other symptoms may include:

There are also more general phobia symptoms that you could watch out for, including:

  • being aware that the phobia is unreasonable, but feeling powerless to control your fear
  • unable to function as you usually would because of your phobia
  • nausea

Not much is known about what causes this and other types of specific phobia. But there are some causes and risk factors that are common across multiple phobias.

These include:

  • An associated negative event: For example, a person who had a hard time learning words as a child may panic whenever they see a long word. Their difficulty learning words could be a scary, traumatic time.
  • Genetics: People who have a family history of certain phobias, anxiety, of other mental health conditions may have a higher chance of developing the same kind of phobia.
  • Environment: This phobia may also be triggered by learned behavior, such as hearing about negative experiences related to that specific phobia or traumatic experiences related to it.

Some individuals with specific phobias may never seek out medical help. Instead, they may persistently avoid situations related to the thing they are fearful of.

For example, people with hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia may take jobs where they aren’t exposed to lengthy words and phrases.

However, it can be helpful to speak with a healthcare professional, particularly if symptoms become unbearable or other symptoms emerge.

Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms to determine if you have a phobia or anxiety disorder. They’ll also review your psychiatric, medical, family, and social history.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines a very specific definition for social phobias. Medical professionals use the DSM-5 to help them make diagnoses.

The table below outlines the DSM-5 criteria for specific phobias and social anxiety disorder:

Specific phobia Social anxiety disorder
• fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation
• the object or situation almost always causes an immediate feeling of fear or anxiety
• the person actively avoids the situation that causes them fear or anxiety
• the fear or anxiety is disproportionate to the danger that the situation actually poses
• feelings of fear or anxiety last for at least 6 months
• fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or adversely affects social or occupational functioning
• the person’s symptoms are not due to another condition 		• fear or anxiety of at least one social situation in which someone may be exposed to potential scrutiny from others
• fear of acting in a way that others may perceive negatively
• the social situation causes feelings of anxiety or fear
• the person feel fear or anxiety during the situation or will avoid it entirely
• fear and anxiety are disproportionate to the danger of the situation
• avoidance, fear, or anxiety lasts at least 6 months and causes significant distress or affects regular functioning
• fear is not due to another condition or substance
fear or anxiety around 1 or multiple social situations where a person is possibly exposed to the possible scrutiny of others

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is typically the first treatment option for phobias. CBT blends exposure therapy with other therapeutic techniques in order to help you cope with your anxiety.

This version of psychotherapy helps change your response to the object, situation, or word causing you fear and anxiety.

Medications may also be helpful in managing anxiety disorders. However, not much is known about their effectiveness in treating this particular phobia.

Other treatment options include:

  • talk therapy with a psychiatrist, counselor, or social worker
  • mindfulness strategies such as mindful breathing, listening, and observation to help you cope with anxiety
  • attending a support group to connect with other people facing the same or similar phobia

Management strategies

You may be able to manage symptoms of anxiety by making certain lifestyle changes, such as:

  • getting enough sleep each night
  • eating a healthy and balanced diet
  • cutting out substances that can make anxiety worse, like caffeine
  • facing fearful and anxiety-inducing situations head-on

When confronted with long words, you may also find it helpful to:

  • Substitute words: Avoiding long words may help you cope, but it’s not necessarily possible all the time. If faced with a long word, try substituting it with a similar shorter term. For example, if you need to write “refrigerator,” use “fridge” instead. You could also try and replace a friend’s long name with their initials or nickname, as long as they’re OK with it.
  • Break words down: Take your time when reading a long word. Breathe in and break the word down into parts, then into syllables. For example, if you have a word like “semiautobiographical,” read it as sem-i-au-to-bi-o-gra-phi-cal.
  • Take advantage of technology: Computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices have autocorrect and dictionaries available to help with spelling. They may also help with phonetic pronunciation in the event that you must learn to pronounce a long word.

Online therapy options

Read our review of the best online therapy options to find the right fit for you.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a fear of long words. People may experience distress and anxiety when they encounter long words due to concerns about judgment from others.

More research is necessary to better understand the fear of long words and what happens when a person is exposed to triggers.

Speak with your doctor or a counselor if you’re experiencing symptoms. They can help you get to the bottom of your fear, understand your symptoms, and come up with a treatment plan. Friends, family, and therapy groups can also help you cope with your phobia.