Fear of long words (hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia)

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is a humorous word for the fear of long words, and its own length is the punchline. A genuine version of this worry may show up as dread at reading aloud, freezing over technical terms, or avoiding forms full of jargon.

About this phobia

The word piles hippopotamus and monster on top of sesquipedalian, from a Latin phrase for something a foot and a half long, used for very long words. It is not a recognised fear. Sesquipedalophobia is the more plausible term, though it too is rarely seen outside lists.

What it feels like

• Stumbling or stalling when a long word appears in a text
• Skipping over long names rather than trying to say them
• Embarrassment at the thought of mispronouncing something in front of others

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

Common questions

Why is the word for fear of long words so long?

It is a deliberate joke, built to be as awkward as possible for anyone who dislikes long words. Real anxiety about reading or saying long words does happen, often alongside reading difficulties or a fear of speaking in public.

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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