Beyond Super-Long: Unraveling the Fascinating World of Longest Words In Spanish

Did you know that Spanish has some impressively long words that can leave even native speakers tongue-tied? These lengthy words aren’t just fun linguistic quirks—they also reveal fascinating insights into the structure and flexibility of the Spanish language. For instance, “anticonstitucionalmente” is one of the longest words in common usage, meaning “unconstitutionally.” But that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Spanish, like German, loves to string words together to create terms that are highly specific. Some of the longest words are technical or scientific, often used in academic or professional contexts. But don’t let their length intimidate you! Understanding and mastering these words can boost your vocabulary and impress your Spanish-speaking friends.

Ever wondered how words get so long in the first place? It’s all about how Spanish builds on root words with prefixes, suffixes, and sometimes, just a bit of creativity. Let’s dive into the world of the longest words in Spanish, explore their meanings, and maybe even learn how to pronounce them without breaking a sweat!

The 6 Longest Spanish Words According To The RAE

Curiously, the longest words in Spanish according to the RAE are medical terms. Meet these 6 words between 19 and 23 letters, which are the words with the most characters in the Spanish language.

1. Anticonstitucionalmente (Unconstitutionally) (23 letters)

If you were wondering what is the longest word in Spanish, the answer is “anticonstitucionalmente”. This word is the longest adverb in the Spanish language, used to describe actions that go against the constitution. With 23 characters, it holds the record as one of the longest words recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy. The word has 9 syllables, with the accent on the penultimate one (nal), making it a flat word.

This is how the syllables of “Anticonstitucionalmente” are divided:

• An – ti – cons – ti – tu – cio – nal – men – te.

2. Esternocleidomastoideo (Sternocleidomastoid) (22 letters)

A complex anatomical term, this word refers to a muscle in the human neck that assists in head rotation. It’s widely used in medical and anatomical contexts. With 22 letters, it’s one of the longest words listed by the RAE. The word is divided into 10 syllables, with the accent on the seventh syllable (toi), making it a flat word.

This is how the syllables of “Esternocleidomastoideo” are divided:

• Es – ter – no – clei – do – mas – toi – de – o.

3. Electroencefalografista (Electroencephalograph Technician) (22 letters)

An electroencephalograph technician is a medical professional who operates equipment that measures brain activity. This 22-letter word is among the longest in Spanish, recognized by the RAE. It consists of 10 syllables, with the accent on the penultimate one (fis), making it a flat word.

This is how the syllables of “Electroencefalografista” are divided:

• E – lec – tro – en – ce – fa – lo – gra – fis – ta.

4. Otorrinolaringológico (Related to Otorhinolaryngology) (22 letters)

This word is used in medical contexts to refer to anything related to otorhinolaryngology, the branch of medicine dealing with ear, nose, and throat disorders. It has 22 letters and is recognized as one of the longest words in Spanish. The word is divided into 10 syllables, with the accent on the penultimate one (ló), making it a flat word.

This is how the syllables of “Otorrinolaringológico” are divided:

• O – tor – ri – no – la – rin – go – ló – gi – co.

5. Electroencefalograma (Electroencephalogram) (19 letters)

This term refers to a test or record of brain activity produced by electroencephalography. It’s a vital tool in the field of neurology. The word consists of 8 syllables, with the accent on the penultimate one (gra), making it a flat word.

This is how the syllables of “Electroencefalograma” are divided:

• E – lec – tro – en – ce – fa – lo – gra – ma.

6. Inconstitucionalidad (Unconstitutionality) (19 letters)

This legal term describes the condition of being contrary to or inconsistent with the constitution. It is often used in legal and political contexts. With 19 letters, it is recognized by the RAE as one of the longest words in Spanish. The word is divided into 8 syllables, with the accent on the penultimate one (li), making it a flat word.

This is how the syllables of “Inconstitucionalidad” are divided:

• In – cons – ti – tu – cio – na – li – dad.

Some Long Words In Spanish

There are many long words, these are some examples of very long words in Spanish:

Caleidoscópico (Kaleidoscopic) 

This word refers to something changing or multiple, it is the adjective associated with the noun “kaleidoscope”, which is an object that has mirrors that form moving prisms. It is a kind of “toy” or entertainment item thanks to its optical effect. 

This word has its accentuation on the third syllable from right to left (có), so it is an esdrújula word (In Spanish “esdrújula”). It consists of 14 characters and 6 syllables, which are the following:

• Ca – lei – dos – co – pi – co. 

Paralelepípedo (Parallelepiped)

It is a geometric figure with 6 faces similar to a cube, of the “polyhedron” type, that is, a hexahedron, which is characterized by having a diagonal aspect. 

The word “paralelepípedo” has its accentuation on the third syllable from right to left (pí), so it is classified as an esdrújula word. It consists of 14 characters and the correct pronunciation is 8 syllables, which are the following:

• Pa – ra – le – le – pi – pe – do.

Alcalinotérreo (Alkaline earth) 

Alkaline ethers are elements that form group 2 of the periodic table, which are radium (Ra), strontium (Sr), magnesium (Mg), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), and calcium (Ca). 

This word also has its accent mark on the third syllable (like the previous ones), being classified as an esdrújula. It has a total of 14 characters and 7 syllables, which are as follows:

• Al – ca – li – no – te – rre – o

Ametralladora (Machine gun) 

This is a larger firearm than a rifle. It is automatic and fires continuously when you pull and hold the trigger. In Spanish it is also called “metralleta“. 

The word “ametralladora” has its soft accentuation on the second syllable, “do”, which is why it is classified as a flat word. Likewise, it also has 14 characters and 6 syllables, which are the following:

• A – me – tra – lla – do – ra

Arteriosclerosis (Arteriosclerosis) 

This is an infection related to plaque that accumulates inside the arteries and is one of the major indirect causes of death in the United States and other parts of the world. 

The word “arteriosclerosis” has its accentuation on the second syllable from right to left (ro), which is why it is a flat word. In addition, it has 16 characters and 6 syllables, which are the following:

• Ar – te – rios – cle – ro – sis

Commonly Used Long Words in Spanish

Although there are even longer words, the following are inspirational quotes in Spanish originally said, as far as we know, by Spanish speakers, like authors, writers, and famous people from the Hispanic world who have left their mark on literature to this day.

Most of these motivational quotes about life trying to make you reflect on life and your way of seeing it. Look at the quotes in Spanish that we bring you below and their meaning:

Electrodoméstico (Home appliance) 

They are electronic objects that are usually used at home, such as refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, stoves, microwaves, and vacuum cleaners, among others. 

This word is used in everyday language and a Spanish speaker has no problem recognizing it. “Electrodoméstico” has 16 characters with 7 syllables, and the penultimate (més) is the one with the accent. 

Learn how its syllables are divided below:

• E – lec – tro – do – mes – ti – co

Independentistas (Independentistas) 

They are a group of people who have different political, social, and cultural thoughts from the rulers of their country. Generally, they belong to a defined community and were born in the same place. 

An example is the Catalan separatists, born in the province of Catalunya, in Spain, who want all of Catalonia to separate from the Spanish government and become an independent republic. 

The word is used among writers and politicians, in addition to regular political followers. “independentistas” is the plural of “independentista”, and has 16 characters and 6 syllables, the penultimate syllable (tis), which is the tonic one. 

See how its syllables are divided below:

• In – de – pen – den – tis – tas.

Afrontamiento (Coping) 

It is the act of overcoming a challenge or difficulty through responsibility and/or management, adaptation, practice, or preparation. This word is also commonly used, as well as the verb that derives from it (to face).

“Afrontamiento” has 13 characters and 5 syllables, and the tonic syllable, or the syllable that marks the accent of the word, is the penultimate syllable (mien). 

Know how to pronounce this word in syllables like this:

• A – fron – ta – mien – to.

Representantes (Representatives)

Representatives are a group of people who act on behalf of an individual or a group. They are generally in charge of making an act of presence, giving information, or making agreements with representatives of other people, collectives, or groups. 

This word or its derivatives (representative, represent, represented,) are known and common in the Spanish language. “Representantes” has 14 characters and 5 syllables, being a flat word because its tonic syllable is the penultimate (tan). 

See how the syllables of this word are divided below:

• Re – pre – sen – tan – tes.

Administradores (Administrators) 

A manager is someone with a vision who is able to put all his knowledge of business planning, organization, direction, and control to use in a situation where his ends are aligned with the objectives of the organization or company. 

This word is the plural of “administrador” and is also widely known and used in Spanish. It has 15 characters and 6 syllables, and it is a flat word since the accent is on the penultimate syllable (do). 

Know how “administradores” is divided into syllables:

• Ad – mi – nis – tra – do – res.

Wrapping up

As you have seen, there are numerous long words in Spanish, and the longest Spanish word can only refer to medical matters. This is an interesting way to learn some words that even Spanish-speaking people have never heard, plus you could also see how they are pronounced, the number of syllables, and on which syllable the accent is stressed.

We hope you liked this article, and if you are interested in knowing the Spanish language in depth, at SpanishVIP we invite you to join this free Spanish lesson or have a 7-day trial in our group classes to continue learning Spanish every day and never stop talking, writing and reading in Spanish.