Fear of Greek and scientific terms (hellenologophobia)

Hellenologophobia is a fear of Greek terms or of complex scientific language. It might show up as dread when reading medical letters, technical reports or textbooks, or a habit of switching off as soon as jargon appears. Some people feel shut out or embarrassed when others use long words they do not know.

About this phobia

The name blends Hellen, meaning Greek, with logos, meaning word. It is a rarely reported term found mostly on lists of phobias, and a little ironic given its length. It has links with the fear of long words and with wider worries about feeling judged or not clever enough.

What it feels like

• Skipping any paragraph that is full of technical terms
• Feeling anxious or foolish in meetings heavy with jargon
• Not asking what a word means in case it looks ignorant

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is it normal to feel anxious about jargon?

Very. Specialist language can be off-putting for anyone, and asking for plain English is always reasonable. It may be more than ordinary frustration if it stops you reading important letters or taking part in work or study.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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