mouthful
UK: ˈmaʊθfʊl | US: ˈmaʊθfʊl
n. an amount of food or drink that fills the mouth
n. (informal) a word or phrase that is long or hard to pronounce
The word "mouthful" combines "mouth" (from Old English mūþ, meaning the oral opening) and the suffix "-ful" (from Old English -full, meaning "full of"). Originally, it literally described the amount that fills a mouth. Over time, it gained a figurative sense for words or phrases that are "hard to swallow" due to length or complexity. The suffix "-ful" is productive in English, often turning nouns into adjectives or new nouns indicating capacity (e.g., "handful," "spoonful").
She took a mouthful of soup and burned her tongue.
"Antidisestablishmentarianism" is quite a mouthful to say.
He chewed a mouthful of bread thoughtfully.
The chemical name was a mouthful, so the students abbreviated it.
A single mouthful of the spicy dish made her reach for water.