Why The World's Longest Word Will Never Appear In Any Dictionary Or Record Book!

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The world's longest word has almost 190,000 letters (Credit: YouTube screen capture)

Search for the term 'world's longest word' and you probably find Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - the scientific name for a lung disease commonly referred to as silicosis. While this is technically true because it is the longest word you will ever see published in a dictionary or for that matter in most places, there are many words that believe it or not, are much longer than that.

While the reason they are not published or given any credence is because they are purportedly not 'real' words, it may also be because they are sooooo long that including them would require the creation of a stand-alone edition!

In fact, the real longest word is so lengthy that even we do not dare publish it in its full 189, 819 letters - The only thing we can tell you is that it starts with methionyl . . . and ends with . . . isoleucine. And incase you are wondering, it took the one person that did dare to say it aloud, a whopping 3.5 hours!

What is even more surprising is that this word is not just a gibberish concoction made up by some crazy person, but a giant protein appropriately dubbed Titin that is made up of 244 unique folded protein domains and also contains the largest number of exons (363) in any single gene. The protein that is used by the body for contraction of striated muscle tissues may not be the most crucial one that we need, but it is not totally worthless either! It is of course better known for its long convoluted scientific name! For those of you curious enough to hear the word aloud, below is the full 3.5 hour video version - test it out and see if you can get through even a tenth of it!

Resources: odditycentral.com,wikipedia.org

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840 Comments
  • bummble bunnyover 9 years
    That is a really long word I wouldn't take 3 hour out of my day just to say it that's for sure
    • I love Japanover 9 years
      I'm using that word now. It's very addicting to say.
      • Blubbbover 9 years
        Wow, that's pretty amazing.
        • mustache12
          mustache12over 9 years
          That is a long word
          • liberty666over 9 years
            true
            • christy23
              christy23over 9 years
              if you were doing an essay on that word, that word is your essay
            • purple swagover 9 years
              what is the definition is a good question
              • logan417027
                logan417027over 9 years
                How in the world xan someone write a word that big?!
                • Amber Awesomeover 9 years
                  He is real crazy HOW DOES HE DO IT?!
                  • atamangover 9 years
                    He's crazy