AI Discovers the Longest Word in the Russian Language
The 55-Letter Word Was Found in a Patent Title Registered in 2006
Researchers at Russia’s Pushkin Institute have identified what may be the longest word in the Russian language — a 55-letter adjective: “тетрагидропиранилциклопентилтетрагидропиридопиридиновые.” The discovery was made using artificial intelligence, which analyzed linguistic data and found the word in the title of a scientific patent registered in 2006.
According to Pavel Katyshev, head of the Department of General and Russian Linguistics, the find demonstrates the structural flexibility of the Russian language. Its ability to generate long, compound words — especially in scientific and technical contexts — shows how the language continually expands to keep pace with advances in research and technology.
Breaking Linguistic Records
Previously, the Guinness World Record for the longest Russian word belonged to “превысокомногорассмотрительствующий” (“extremely high-minded”), with 35 letters. Before that, the term “рентгеноэлектрокардиографический” (“related to X-ray electrocardiography”) held the unofficial title.
Katyshev notes that while everyday Russian relies on short, functional words like prepositions and particles, it’s the rare, complex formations that best reveal the creative power and expressive range of the language.
The AI-assisted discovery underscores a broader truth — that language evolves with human intellect, reflecting both the precision of science and the imagination of those who speak it.
