# Guiness World Record: Most Complex (Succinct?) Word Definition **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965 "2003-08-04T20:29:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/1 "2003-08-04T20:29:31Z")
In an old edition of GBWR there was an entry for something like “Most Succinct Word” or “Word that conveys the most complex meaning.” It was a word from a relatively primitive culture and it meant something like “the moment when two people look at each other hoping the other one is going to do it.” It applied to a situation where someone might say to another, “We need more wood for the fire.” and both people would look at each other waiting/hoping the other would say “I’ll do it.” I know there are alot of logophiles on this board so have at it. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/2 "2003-08-04T21:18:41Z")
The word is “mamihlapinatapai” … You were looking at me hoping I would find it right? ---
**Author:** ![Sharopolis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Sharopolis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sharopolis)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/3 "2003-08-04T23:06:59Z")
Sounds a bit like a stand off, an impasse or even a deadlock to me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/4 "2003-08-04T23:36:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*The word is “mamihlapinatapai” … You were looking at me hoping I would find it right? \*\* Aha! Thanks man. Do you know the word from the GBWR or from another source? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/5 "2003-08-04T23:41:27Z")
Also, what is the actual noun here, the moment, the look? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/6 "2003-08-04T23:44:13Z")
Also is it used as a noun or a verb? ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/7 "2003-08-04T23:45:13Z")
> [@](#): > > The _most succinct_ word is the Fuegian (southern-most Argentina and Chile) > word “mamihlapinatapai” which means “looking at each other hoping that either will offer to do something which both parties desire but are unwilling to do” [http://www.recordholders.org/en/news/news013.html](http://www.recordholders.org/en/news/news013.html) Allow myself to perform a slight hijack and mention that Douglas Adams and a cohort of his published a book called the Meaning of Liff, in which they gave names to these sort of situations (like if you came into the kitchen but, upon arriving, forgot why you were going in). I believe they were given the names of small towns. I can’t remember the fellow Adams worked with, but I know he did a calendar called Not 1982. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/8 "2003-08-04T23:52:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Moo the Magic Cow \* > [BAllow myself to perform a slight hijack and mention that Douglas Adams and a cohort of his published a book called the Meaning of Liff, in which they gave names to these sort of situations (like if you came into the kitchen but, upon arriving, forgot why you were going in). I believe they were given the names of small towns. I can’t remember the fellow Adams worked with, but I know he did a calendar called Not 1982. \*\* Sounds a bit like Rich Hall’s “Sniglets.” Here’s one apropos of your name: Bovilexia (bo vil eks’ e uh) - n. The uncontrollable urge to lean out the car window and yell “Moo!” every time you pass a cow. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/9 "2003-08-04T23:53:32Z")
And here is one apropos of the entire SDMB: Dopeler effect- the tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/10 "2003-08-05T00:03:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*The word is “mamihlapinatapai” … You were looking at me hoping I would find it right? \*\* Hmm … correct to the point answer and quite clever delivery. Holy crap! :eek: What have you done with handy! If you’ve harmed a hair on his head I swear…:mad: ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/11 "2003-08-05T00:44:30Z")
_The Meaning of Liff_ and the expanded version _The Deeper Meaning of Liff_ were written by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd. Example: > [@](#): > > **Yonkers** (n) _Rare_ The combined thrill of pain and shame when being caught in public plucking your nostril hairs and stuffing them in your side-pocket. As far as Guinness claiming that Fuegian is the most succinct word in English, I have my doubts. There’s lots of words that have a much more complicated meaning than that. I’d like to know what their definition of succinct is. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/12 "2003-08-05T03:14:13Z")
Yeah. I would nominate “irony” for succinct with a complicated definition. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/13 "2003-08-05T03:41:22Z")
Fuegian ISN’T the most succinct word… its the geographic origin of the word… The actual word, as mentioned above, is mama… mama… mamaidontknowwhattherestis. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/14 "2003-08-05T14:33:32Z")
So, how do you pronounce it? “mamihlapinatapai” I could fingerspell it, but I would like to know how to say it without hearing myself say it (don’t ask). ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guiness-world-record-most-complex-succinct-word-definition/192965/15 "2003-08-05T15:15:45Z")
one source says: ma mee haa laa pee nah tuh pie