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Without looking it up, what’s the longest single-syllable English word you can think of? (Here are the answers.)

Comments  7

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Jason KottkeMOD

This popped into my head this morning while brushing my teeth. I came up with "though" and then "thought" and finally "strength" (8). Couldn't think of anything longer...perhaps you'll do better?

D
Daniel Schnitzer

strengths

Jason KottkeMOD

Well played!

M
Mathew Deram

I've always thought it was "squirrelled", which (with the British spelling) has 11 letters. Rhymes with "world" (but then insert obligatory comment about how syllables are a construct and sort of just made up because we can't agree on them. source: https://kottke.org/23/12/0043498-do-syllables-exist-althou)

G
Grant Hamilton

“Strengths” is a good word to remember as it’s the longest English word with only one vowel, AFAIK.

K
Keith Dawson

"Strengths" cannot be beat. I realized this while being broughammed to the airport.

Jason Kottke reposted

@kottke the actual longest single syllable English word is the elongated “fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck” I sigh when I read the news most days.

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