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Another question on the site made me take notice that through is monosyllabic, but quite long. Are there longer monosyllabic words? What's the longest disyllabic word in English?

Edit: so, Wikipedia has a page for monosyllabic words, but none for disyllabic ones. Anyone can think of any long disyllabic example?

Gangnus
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F'x
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    measured how? vocally, orthographically? – bmargulies May 05 '11 at 20:28
  • @bmargulies: orthographically – F'x May 05 '11 at 20:30
  • I've seen lots on monosyllabic words, but nothing ever on disyllabic ones. – Mitch May 06 '11 at 19:31
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    I'm guessing we aren't allowed to suggest, Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhh! – Jon Hanna Jan 16 '13 at 14:02
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    Defining syllables orthographically does not really make any sense, but I guess we can assume the intended definition is “containing only one/two vowel(s)/vowel combination(s)”. If we define instead by phonetic syllables (and include proper names), the longest disyllabic word I can think of is the surname *Featherstonehaugh* (pronounced /ˈfænʃɔː/, for no apparent reason other than English aristocracy). – Janus Bahs Jacquet Oct 12 '13 at 19:25
  • I presume that F'x meant to define syllables phonetically, but length orthographically. – Bradd Szonye Oct 13 '13 at 03:01
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    To quote my childhood: What is the longest word in the English language? ... It is smiles. There is a mile between each "s"! – RichF Feb 07 '17 at 04:04

8 Answers8

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From Wikipedia:

  • Strengths is the longest word in the English language containing only one vowel.

  • Rhythms is the longest word in the English language containing none of the five recognised vowels.

  • Schmaltzed and strengthed appear to be the longest monosyllabic words recorded in OED; but if squirrelled is pronounced as one syllable only (as permitted in SOED for squirrel), it is the longest.

This Wikipedia article suggests that schtroumpfed is the longest; however, it's really a stretch to say this is an English word in any even remotely established sense (and I am definitely not strict in the words I would consider to be "part of" a language).

Community
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Kosmonaut
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Strengths is a nine-lettered monosyllable. And it is compulsory to mention that smiles has one mile between the two S's...

psmears
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http://braingle.com/news/hallfame.php?path=language/english/pronunciation/syllable.p&sol=1 gives "scratchbrushed" (14 letters) as the longest 2-syllable word. A more common word is "breakthroughs" (13 letters).

If you allow hyphens, perhaps "straight-stretched" (17 letters) is acceptable.

Gnubie
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Scraunched Scroonched Strengthed

Chandler Sawyer
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    Despite your unembellished brevity, I think you may actually be on to something there. Alas, schmaltzed given separately) ties you. But these are all of the same form of a liquid s* (possibly palatalized) following by an optional stop and then a nasal or liquid, and finally given an -ed suffix. One might make something of that. – tchrist Jan 29 '13 at 02:52
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Wikipedia's list includes the 11-letter "broughammed," which means to be taken by brougham, a type of carriage. Its meaning is similar to that of "bused" or "carted."

randojenkins
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Assuming you don't allow hyphens for disyllabic words, the London street name Knightsbridge is 13 letters. (It is also one of the rare words with six consonants in a row.)

Tim Lymington
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Strengths ties with twelfths for the longest word in the English language containing only one vowel. Although, in view of my contributions elsewhere

Is a syllable defined phonetically or etymologically?

I have to say I'm not sure I can happily call it a monosyllable ("two elfs").

Community
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Dan
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Wikipedia has a nice list. Schmaltzed is probably the longest "real word", being in the OED, but it depends on what you consider standard / reputable.

I'm not sure about disyllabic words.

Matthew Read
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