What is the longest word in your language, and what does it mean in English? - eviltoast

I love the German word ver­bes­se­rungs­be­dürf­tig, meaning in need of improvement. I’m not German, but thought this was a cracking word.

    • espentan@lemmy.world
      14·
      20 days ago

      Same in Norwegian.

      Looks like this one is a popular candidate for the longest official word:

      Minoritetsladningsbærerdiffusjonskoeffisientmålingsapparatur.

      It’s an instrument for measuring the distance between particles in crystalline materials.

    • Ephera@lemmy.mlEnglish
      7·
      19 days ago

      Yeah, Wikipedia tells me the longest word that was actually in use is Grundstücks­verkehrs­genehmigungs­zuständigkeitsübertragungs­verordnung. It was a decree from 2003 until 2007.

      Basically:

      • “Grundstück” is a plot of land.
      • “Verkehr” is traffic “trade” in this context.
      • “Genehmigung” is approval.
      • “Zuständigkeit” is responsibility.
      • “Übertragung” is transfer.
      • “Verordnung” is decree.

      So, it decreed that the responsibility of approving traffic on trade of private plots of land should be transferred (to a different government body).