supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
English
Etymology
First attested in the 1940s, it was made famous by its use in a song of the same title in the movie Mary Poppins (1964), by songwriters Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman.Derived from Latin super (“beyond”) + calor (“heat”) + fragilis (“delicacy”) + expiatio (“satisfaction”) + -ous
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌsuːpəˌkælɨˌfɹæd͡ʒɨˌlɪstɪkˌɛkspɪˌælɨˈdəʊʃəs/
- (General American) enPR: so͞o'pər-kăl'ĭ-fră'jĭ-lĭs'tĭk-ĕk'spē-ăl'ĭ-dōʹshəs, IPA(key): /ˌsupɚˌkælɪ̈ˌfɹæd͡ʒɪ̈ˌlɪstɪkˌɛkspiˌælɪ̈ˈdoʊʃəs/
Audio (UK) (file) Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -əʊʃəs
- Hyphenation: su‧per‧cal‧i‧frag‧i‧lis‧tic‧ex‧pi‧a‧li‧do‧cious
Adjective
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (not comparable)
- (humorous) Fantastic, very wonderful
- 1964 August 27, Mary Poppins, spoken by Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews):
- It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
- 2010 March 15, Mula, Rose Madeline, The Beautiful People and Other Aggravations, Gretna: Pelican Publishing, →ISBN, OL 24521586M, page 91:
- By comparison with the present transcribers, I'm sure my performance would be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
- 2011, Allberry, Mary B., I Ain't Done Yet, Victoria: FriesenPress, →ISBN, OL 25422249M, page 91:
- This is a real biggie so pay attention—I still pinch myself occasionally to even believe I did this; it was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
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Usage notes
Often cited as an example of a very long word.
Alternative forms
- supercalifragilistic (shortening)
Derived terms
- supercalifragilisticexpialidociously
- supercalifragilisticexpialidociousness
Translations
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
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See also
- antidisestablishmentarianism
- floccinaucinihilipilification
- dacryocystorhinostomy
- hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia
- pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
References
“supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.