The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #151051   Message #3522443
Posted By: Rapparee
03-Jun-13 - 09:04 PM
Thread Name: BS: Mein Gott! Longest word expunged!
Subject: RE: BS: Mein Gott! Longest word expunged!
Where would English be without

As the largest known protein, titin also has the longest IUPAC name. The full chemical name, which starts methionyl... and ends ...isoleucine, contains 189,819 letters and is sometimes stated to be the longest word in the English language, or any language. It can take over three hours to pronounce. However, lexicographers regard generic names of chemical compounds as verbal formulae rather than English words. (Wikipedia)

or

Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism

or

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

or the longest word coined by a major author (and where would literature be without Aristophanes?) and transliterated from the Greek original (λοπαδο­τεμαχο­σελαχο­γαλεο­κρανιο­λειψανο­δριμ­υπο­τριμματο­σιλφιο­καραβο­μελιτο­κατακεχυ­μενο­κιχλ­επι­κοσσυφο­φαττο­περιστερ­αλεκτρυον­οπτο­κεφαλλιο­κιγκλο­πελειο­λαγῳο­σιραιο­βαφη­τραγανο­πτερύγων),

Lopado­temacho­selacho­galeo­kranio­leipsano­drim­hypo­trimmato­silphio­parao­melito­katakechy­meno­kichl­epi­kossypho­phatto­perister­alektryon­opte­kephallio­kigklo­peleio­lagoio­siraio­baphe­tragano­pterygon.

German? Phooey!