Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesImpactTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Impact

Treatment

Coping

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of long words. The exact triggers are highly personalized; for example, some people fear long, multisyllabic words, and others, long, obscure words. Some even fear common words of moderate length.

Specific phobias like hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia affect between 3% and 15% of the population.Their relative rarity, however, does not change how devastating they can be for those who have them.

How Do You Spell the Fear of Long Words?The spelling varies, sometimes with one ‘p’ in the middle (hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia) and other times with two (hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia). Both appear to be acceptable for use.

How Do You Spell the Fear of Long Words?

The spelling varies, sometimes with one ‘p’ in the middle (hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia) and other times with two (hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia). Both appear to be acceptable for use.

Bathmophobia: The Fear of Stairs or Slopes

Symptoms of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Although somephobiaslead to physical symptoms such as shaking, freezing in place, or sweating, symptoms of the fear of long words can be more subtle.

Children with hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia might develop school-related phobias or lose interest in their academics. Other possible symptoms associated with a specific phobia such as the phobia of long words include:

The fear of long words is rare, and its symptoms can mirror those of many other conditions. Seek advice from a trained mental health professional if you suspect you have hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.

If you or a loved one are experiencing the symptoms of a phobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are experiencing the symptoms of a phobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Diagnosis of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is not included in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5), but a mental health professional might consider thecriteria for a specific phobiawhen evaluating for a diagnosis of the fear of long words.

This criterion includes having a pronounced fear or anxiety around the phobia which, in this case, is long words. This fear or anxiety also:

Another potentially related fear ismetrophobiaor the fear of poetry. By its nature, poetry often contains unfamiliar words and unusual phrasing that can strike fear in those predisposed to discomfort with long words.

Logophobia is the fear of words altogether. This might encompass only words with particular sounds, suffixes, prefixes, etc. or words at large.

Causes of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Research suggests thatgenetics may play a roleas well. It’s not uncommon for patients with a phobic disorder to also have a family history of these types of conditions.

The DSM-5 adds that people with specific tempers, likebehavioral inhibition, may be more at risk of developing a specific phobia. However, more research is needed to determine the risk factors for developing a phobia of a specific object, such as a long word.

Impact of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Like all phobias, the fear of long words can have a very real impact on a person’s daily functioning and quality of life. A college professor who is constantly exposed to lengthy words might have serious difficulties at work, for instance.

In the classroom, a young person with a fear of long words may experience anxiety that potentially leads to the development of asocial phobiaor feelings of isolation and depression. As they head toward adulthood, they may even choose a career path that provides less exposure to lengthy words, cutting their list of opportunities short.

Treatment for Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

If you are diagnosed with a phobia, there is treatment available to help manage your symptoms. Treating a specific phobia such as hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia may involve medication, psychotherapy, or both.

Medication

The most commonly prescribed medication for anxiety disorders are antidepressants such asselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs).Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax (alprazolam), may be prescribed as well.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) andexposure therapyare two types of psychotherapy that may be used to help treat the fear of long words. CBT helps identify and change negative thought patterns while exposure therapy is a type of behavioral therapy that involves facing your fears.

Coping With Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

If your phobia of long words is mild and doesn’t significantly impact your life, making a conscious effort to expand your vocabulary can help. Look for opportunities to learn new words through reading or everyday conversation.

Additionally, if you come across an unfamiliar word, look it up. Developing a level of familiarity with the word may help ease your symptoms of anxiety.

If your symptoms are more serious and impacting your daily life, professional assistance may be needed. Amental health professionalcan help you work through your fears and provide more coping strategies for managing your symptoms during the treatment process.

The Takeaway

Living with a phobia can be difficult. However, proper treatment can help relieve symptoms and provide coping strategies.

If you’re experiencing a profound fear of long words—or any other fear that’s disrupting your everyday life, reach out to a mental health professional for help. They have tools that can help you manage your fear.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XAnxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR).National Alliance on Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Steinhausen HC, Jakobsen H, Meyer A, Jørgensen PM, Lieb R.Family aggregation and risk factors in phobic disorders over three-generations in a nation-wide study.PLoS One. 2016;11(1):e0146591. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146591Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialog Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2.bbandelow

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XAnxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR).National Alliance on Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Steinhausen HC, Jakobsen H, Meyer A, Jørgensen PM, Lieb R.Family aggregation and risk factors in phobic disorders over three-generations in a nation-wide study.PLoS One. 2016;11(1):e0146591. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146591Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialog Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2.bbandelow

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XAnxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR).National Alliance on Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Steinhausen HC, Jakobsen H, Meyer A, Jørgensen PM, Lieb R.Family aggregation and risk factors in phobic disorders over three-generations in a nation-wide study.PLoS One. 2016;11(1):e0146591. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146591Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialog Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2.bbandelow

Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Symptoms.

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR).

National Alliance on Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.

Steinhausen HC, Jakobsen H, Meyer A, Jørgensen PM, Lieb R.Family aggregation and risk factors in phobic disorders over three-generations in a nation-wide study.PLoS One. 2016;11(1):e0146591. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146591

Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialog Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2.bbandelow

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