supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

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English

Wikipedia

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”) +‎ expiātiō (“satisfaction”) +‎ doceō (“teach”) + -ous. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)

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)

  1. (humorous) Fantastic, very wonderful
    • 1964 August 27, Mary Poppins, spoken by Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews):
      It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
    • 2010 March 15, Rose Madeline Mula, The Beautiful People and Other Aggravations, Gretna: Pelican Publishing, →ISBN, →OL, page 91:
      By comparison with the present transcribers, I'm sure my performance would be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
    • 2011, Mary B. Allberry, I Ain't Done Yet, Victoria: FriesenPress, →ISBN, →OL, page 91:
      This is a real biggie so pay attention—I still pinch myself occasionally to even believe I did this; it was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Usage notes

  • Often cited as an example of a very long word.

Derived terms

Descendants

Translations

See also

References

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